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Thompson halts Harsh Mankad

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Nathan Thompson, fresher and steadier than Harsh Mankad, used the bounce off the hard court to rifle in forehands and outhit his rival for a 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory at the ITF Men’s Futures tournament here on Friday. The fourth seed American will take on qualifier Ryan Young, his compatriot, in Saturday’s final.

The latter proved more accurate from the baseline than second seed Hyun Woo Nam of Korea, to end up with a 6-4, 6-2 scoreline in his favour.

Thompson called the shots in the first set and was stretched in the second by Mankad, who set up points nicely to level at 4-4. Two double-faults by the Indian, just as he was starting to assert himself, provided the American with breathing space.

“I had to make things happen. I thought the second set was tighter, my game was falling into place,” said Mankad and admitted that the fourth seed deserved his place in the final. “Playing singles and doubles in this heat began to take its toll on me. He had easier matches till the semifinals in comparison, did not play the doubles. And, of course, he was the better player.” Young cashed in on Nam’s wayward returns, surging to victory from 2-2, pocketing the last four games.

The results: Semifinals: Nathan Thompson (US) bt Harsh Mankad 6-2, 6-4; Ryan Young (US) bt Hyun-Woo Nam (Kor) 6-4, 6-2.

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