Benjamin, Sunil in summit clash

The Benjamin-Parekh encounter was a keen contest with the latter, probably, seeking to avenge his defeat the last time the two met. The first eight games saw both Mumbai lads holding on to their serve, taking the set score at 4-4. Benjamin, however, managed to break his higher seeded opponent’s serve and then held on to take the first set 6-4.

Two games down in the second, Parekh rallied to win the next twogames. But Benjamin again snatched lead, taking the next three games which proved decisive in the end as he went on to win 6-3 for a berth in the final.

On the adjacent court, second seed Sunil Kumar had an equally tough time against his opponent from West Bengal. The 15-year-old from Chandigarh rallied from 3-4 (first set) and 2-4 (second set) deficits to post the straight set win.

Third seed Liza Pereira stamped her authority over second seed T Yamini with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in the girls’ under-16 semi-finals. She now faces top seed Sonal Phadke in an all-Maharashtra final tomorrow. Sonal made short work of Jitisha Shelarkha 6-2, 6-2 to cruise closer to her quest for a second successive title. She was the under-16 champion at Practennis.

RESULTS

Boys’ under-16 (semi-finals): 5-Benjamin Xavier bt 4-Pratim Parikh 6-4, 6-3; 2-Sunil Kumar bt 3-Vinod Kumar Seva 7-5, 6-4.

Under-14 (semi-finals): 1-Amanjyot Singh bt 3-Nishang Mishra 6-4, 6-1; Saurav Sukul bt 4-Rohan Gajjar 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(7-2)

Girls’ under-16 (semi-finals): 1-Sonal Phadke bt 4-Jitisha Shelarkha 6-2, 6-2; 3-Liza Pereira bt 2-T Yamini 6-2, 6-3

Under-14 (semi-finals): 1-Megha Vakharia bt Johann Fernandes 7-5, 6-1; 6-Sasha Abraham bt 4-Lata Asudani 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2.

State Ranking

Mens’ (quarter-finals): Pratim Parekh bt Chetan Desai 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Under-12 (semi-finals): 1-Keshav Narsimhan bt Gautam Samarth 6-3, 6-3; 2-Akshay Chelappa bt 8-Devang Shah 6-2, 6-2

Girls’ under-12 (quarter-finals): 1-Lizenka Pereira bt 8-Aditi Vasant 7-1; 4-Sagarika Phadke bt 5-Kanisha Mehta 7-2; 3-Niddi Shah bt Moneeza Siddiqui 7-0; 2-Tulsi Mehta bt Akshata Nayak 7-1.