Shruti successfully counters a Radhika test

By Kamesh Srinivasan

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 14. Shruti Dhawan was thoroughly teased and tested before being allowed entry into the final of the India Tennis Centre 10,000-dollar ITF women's circuit tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Friday.

The energetic Shruti, who made her maiden final at this level, was denied victory off her first four matchpoints by the champion of the last two tournaments in the country, Radhika Tulpule. It was Radhika who stood out in the climax, but Shruti was more athletic in the energy-sapping conditions, in executing a 3-6, 6- 1, 7-6 (7-4) triumph in the quality contest that spanned two hours and five minutes.

The 19-year-old Shruti, the third seed, will take on the second- seeded Rushmi Chakravarthi, who was steady in outwitting Sania Mirza at 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-3.

The day undoubtedly belonged to Shruti, whose previous best has been making the semifinals in Bangalore and Manila. Shruti had the game and a sound temperament to make a match of it this day, even as Radhika was tiring out in the end.

However, it was Radhika who stole the thunder with two spectacular shots in saving the first two matchpoints in the 12th game of the decider, before Shruti missed two more matchpoints from 6-2 in the tie-break because of loose play.

Even earlier, Radhika pushed her game by a couple of notches in the eighth game when she held serve at love, firing down an ace on gamepoint, after smacking winners with ridiculous ease.

Radhika broke Shruti in the ninth game as she continued to play her strokes with refreshing confidence. Yet, Radhika was unable to maintain such high intensity for long, as she played below par in the next three games, except for brief patches of brilliance when she was staring defeat.

Radhika won instant applause for saving those two matchpoints in the 12th game, first with a service winner down the middle, and the second with a delectable volley after a gripping rally.

It was Shruti all the way thereafter as she recovered her composure by racing to a 6-2 lead, capitalising on the erratic ways of her fast-tiring opponent. Radhika put a forehand long in bringing the curtains down.

Tentative start

Both the players were tentative in the first two sets, trying to deny the pace for each other, and sticking to the basics. After four exchange of breaks Radhika took the first set in 34 minutes, saving two breakpoints in the eighth game that proved decisive.

The first set had come her way far too easily, and thus Radhika was not ready when her game slipped a bit even as Shruti played at her usual attacking best, going for the shots with a calculated approach in the second set.

Shruti reeled off six games in a row after Radhika had held serve in the first game of the second set, and took a mere 21 minutes to force the decider.

Radhika was serving for the match at 5-4 in the decider, but put a forehand long in facing a breakpoint and succumbed by hitting a backhand wide. There were some pyrotechnics in the climax, but Radhika had clearly lost her way in the decider that spanned an hour.

Sania lacks consistency

In the other semifinal, the 14-year-old Sania Mirza was spectacular in patches, but lacked the consistency to make a match of it against the seasoned Rushmi Chakravarthi.

Sania played brilliantly after slipping to 4-5, and hammered four winners to break Rushmi in the tenth. Sania saved a breakpoint in the 11th game with one of her patented forehand winners, that leaves little time for opponents to react, let alone return effectively, despite the ball being directed right at them.

In the eventual tie-break, Sania was at her attacking best, as she hit four winners, including two on the return of serve, and finished the set with an ace on second serve.

Naturally, it was difficult to live up to such high standards and Sania lost her way in the next two sets, mainly because of her impetuous approach, as she was swinging her racquet without a care in the world.

In contrast, Rushmi was playing a more scientific game, and her blistering forehand crosscourts clinched the issue in her favour. A string of poor serves and doublefaults saw Sania get into trouble in the second set, in which Rushmi broke her four times.

There was a flicker of hope in the climax when Sania broke back in the seventh game for 3-4, but Rushmi was far too steady to give any room of recovery for her opponent. Having saved four breakpoints in the first game of the decider, Rushmi was in command in the decider.

Rushmi broke Sania at love in the eighth game, and served out the match without much fuss, converting her first matchpoint with a service winner.

Rushmi may have to move better and play more briskly if she thinks of adding a third title at this level, including one joint-winner status with Radhika in Bangalore last season.

The 23-year-old Rushmi had won the title in the first tournament this season in Chandigarh, and will be tested by the Chandigarh lass, Shruti Dhawan, who is looking for her maiden title at this level.

The results (semifinals): Rushmi Chakravarthi bt Sania Mirza 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-3; Shruti Dhawan bt Radhika Tulpule 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).

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