The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Etzinger to meet Cerovic

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 20, 2007
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Sport - Tennis

Etzinger to meet Cerovic

Special Correspondent

BELLARY: The affable Austrian, Rainer Etzinger, made his second Futures final within a fortnight as he demolished the challenge of National hard court champion Ashutosh Singh 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the $15,000 Bellary Open ITF Futures championship here on Friday.

In Saturday’s final, Etzinger will meet fourth seed, Ivan Cerovic of Croatia. Cerovic battled past Oswald 7-6(7 6), 7-5 in a contest lasting over two hours.

Ashutosh, however, had something to cheer about, as he won the doubles title partnering Vivek Shokeen. The Indian pair, came up with a commendable display, after a mid-match slump, to beat Etzinger and Oswald 7-6(4), 3-6, 10-5 (super tie-break) in the final. The Indians also picked up 24 points and $945 as prize money.

Great ability

Etzinger, who dropped his first game of the match with two double faults, quickly shook off the reverse as he kept stroking with a lot more assurance and poise.

Three great returns, which gave Ashutosh very little chance, saw Etzinger grab a break and level the set at 2-all. Etzinger struck again in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead and then powered his way to a 6-3 verdict.

Ashutosh’s hopes of a comeback in the second set went up in smoke in the sixth game as he volleyed wide and had a double fault to compound his troubles. Etzinger cracked him with a forehand winner to take a 4-2 lead and made sure that he stayed on course by serving hard and true.

Having the edge

The southpaw Cerovic, ranked higher than Oswald, had the edge. He packed a blistering first serve that kept him afloat against the tenacious Austrian rival, who fought every inch.

The first set went with serves to the tie-breaker, where Oswald led at 6-4 before Cerovic charged back on serve to level at 6-all and take it 8-6.

The second set also fell into a similiar pattern before Oswald blinked first, dropping the serve in the 11th game with a double fault and two volley errors. Cerovic served out the match, a forehand winner sealing victory.

The results (Indians unless specified):

Singles: Semifinals: Rainer Etzinger (Aut) bt Ashutosh Singh 6-3, 6-4; Ivan Cerovic (Cro) bt Phillipp Oswald (Aut) 7-6(6), 7-5.

Doubles: Final: Ashutosh Singh & Vivek Shokeen bt R. Etzinger & P. Oswald 7-6(4), 3-6,1 0-5.

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