The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Kyra bows out in semifinals

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Kyra bows out in semifinals

NEW DELHI: Kyra Shroff's campaign came to a premature end despite a good show, as she lost 3-6, 4-6 to seventh-seeded Celine Cattaneo of France in the semifinals of the $10,000 ITF women's tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Friday.

Though the 18-year-old Kyra did win the doubles title later in the day, her maiden crown at this level, partnering Anja Prislan of Slovenia, it was no consolation as she had looked so good in singles play.

Kyra, unleashing explosive ground-strokes and exceptional volleys, after a slow start, looked to have turned the tide in her favour when she led 4-1 in the second set.

However, she got carried away by her own fluent game, and failed to tighten her grip over proceedings when it mattered.

Turning point

At 4-2 in the second set, Kyra failed to put away an easy volley and played it straight to her wiry opponent, in an attempt to surprise her, when she had the whole court at her disposal and opponent, at mercy.

The attempt proved counter-productive as the 28-year-old French girl, who had won her maiden title on the ITF women's circuit recently at St. Martin, won that point and the next two to break back.

With her huge serve, the French girl dictated the flow overall, and dropped only one point on her serve in the next two service games, winding up the show with an ace down the middle.

Kyra could have still made a fight of it but for failing to capitalise on two game-points in the ninth game, when her opponent handled the situation beautifully with a deft drop and a telling lob.

Second-seeded Nicha Lertpitaksinchai, who had won the singles title in the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Bangalore last December, fought her way past Stephanie Scimone of Italy, in the other semifinal.

The results:

Singles (semifinals): Celine Cattaneo (Fra) bt Kyra Shroff 6-3, 6-4; Nicha Lertpitaksinchai (Tha) bt Stephanie Scimone (Ita) 7-6(8), 6-3.

Doubles (final): Anja Prislan (Slo) & Kyra Shroff bt Stephanie Hirsch & Yvonne Neuwirth (Aut) 6-3, 7-5 . — Special Correspondent

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