Kartiki, Stoeckler make semifinals

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, SEPT. 27. Unseeded Kartiki Bhat and Dominic Stoeckler proved to be exceptions to the rule as seeded players forced their way into the singles semifinals of the International Tennis Federation's junior circuit tournament here on Thursday.

The Pune girl continued her stunning spree by sending out eighth- seeded Nandita Chandrasekhar 6-3, 6-1 in 95 minutes of action, while the tall Swiss youngster marched into the boys' semifinals taking apart eighth-seeded Arun Prakash 6-2, 6-1.

Matches finished ahead of schedule at the Dr. G.A. Ranade courts, giving those remaining in the fray time to get their breath back as the tournament enters the home stretch.

Seven of the eight singles quarterfinal ties did not go beyond two sets, one got over even faster when Thailand's seventh-seeded Sratha Saengsuwarn, racked by fatigue-induced nausea, conceded the tie after losing the first 4-6 to Indonesian Dalodom Anuwat.

Local girl Isha Lakhani overwhelmed Thailand's Pichaya Laosirichon and is now just one match away from playing her second consecutive final. She won the Chennai leg after being seeded 11th, the same as here, and will be a tough opponent for fourth-seeded Diana Julianto of Indonesia in Friday's semifinal.

``I went out on court confident of my abilities against Pichaya,'' said Lakhani, who looked in no trouble against the talented Indonesian, winning 6-1, 6-4 in one hour, 22 minutes. The Indian loves to take charge and was in her element despite the heat, sending the second-seeded Pichaya scurrying all over.

The boys' champion in ITF's Chennai leg, fourth-seeded Karan Rastogi, too moved within sight of another title overwhelming Rishi Behl 6-1, 6-1. He will take on second-seeded Rohan Gajjar in the semifinals, ensuring one Indian entry in the final, while Switzerland's Stoeckler will face Indonesian Anuwat in the other clash. The women's semifinals line-up is Julianto vs Lakhani, Bhat vs Rebecca Dandeniya.

The results:

Boys: Singles quarterfinals: 2-R. Gajjar bt 5-Jaco Mathew 6-1, 6- 0; D. Stoeckler (Swi) bt 8-A. Prakash 6- 2, 6-1; 4-K. Rastogi bt 10-R. Behl 6-1, 6-1; 3-D. Anuwat bt 7-S. Saengsuwarn (Thai) 6-4, conceded.

Doubles (semifinals): Vikrant Sane/A. Prakash bt R. Behl/S. Saengsuwarn (Thai) 6-2, 6-0; D. Anuwat/N. Pongkansub (Tha) bt Dev Varman/J. Mathew 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3. Quarterfinals: D. Anuwat/N. Pongkansub (Thai) bt A. Ranaveer/Dhrub Kumar 6-1, 6-0; D. Varman/J. Mathew bt A. Sharma/Amanjot Singh 6-3, 6-1; V. Sane/A. Prakash bt Amit Karunakaran/Nehal Advani 3-6, 7-5, 6-1; R. Behl/S. Saengsuwarn (Tha) 6-3, 6-1.

Girls: Singles quarterfinals: 4-D. Julianto (Ina) bt 7-Lata Assudani 6-1, 6-1; 7-K. Bhat bt 8-N. Chandrasekhar 6-3, 6-1; 11- I. Lakhani bt 2-P. Laosirichon (Thai) 6-1, 6-4; 3-Dandeniya Rebecca (GBR) bt 6-Rosa Maya (Ina) 6-4, 6- 2.

Doubles (semifinals): S. Bhambri/P. Laosirichon (Thai) bt R. Maya/D. Julianto (Ina) 6-1, 7-6 (7-2); Preeti Rao/N. Chandrasekhar bt L. Assudani/I. Lakhani 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). Quarterfinals: R. Maya/D. Julianto (Ina) bt Jharna Nansi/Nidhi Shah 6-1, 6-1; Saana Bhambri/P. Laosirichon (Thai) bt Shradha Lodha/Joanne Fernandes 6-0, 7-5; P. Rao/N. Chandrasekhar bt Iciri Rai/Sandra Sashidharan 6-4, 4-6, 6-1; L. Assudani/I. Lakhani bt Anuradha Gurung/Sonali Sanap 6-0, 6-2.

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