Fazal finds Chicione masala too hot

NOVEMBER 12: Tom Chicone USA limped at regular intervals, egged himself on continuously, slammed winners all over the court from all po...

NOVEMBER 12: Tom Chicone USA limped at regular intervals, egged himself on continuously, slammed winners all over the court from all possible angles and left Syed Fazaluddin holding the runner-up trophy after two hours, 10 minutes.

The American, who turned professional in June, won the 6,250 ITF Satellite Tennis Circuit Masters leg at the GA Ranade Tennis Centre today, his maiden title. He also topped the four-week event conducted by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association MSLTA with 66 Circuit points 47 ATP points including 10 bonus.

Fazaluddin took home Rs 25,500 11 ATP pts for his one week of relief effort after a three-week disaster strike while Prahlad Srinath, a quarter-final loser, shared the second spot in the Circuit with Germany8217;s Thomas Messmer 53 Circuit points or 37 ATP including five bonus.

Chicoine affected another of his bouncing back tricks, after recovering from a 1-3 final set deficit against Messmer yesterday. At 5-4 serving in the decider, he was down two break points and Fazaluddin faced his last chance to salvage the final.

Then, the line moved just a little. Or so Fazaluddin would have thought for two seemingly winning shots 8212; one forehand pass and a backhand return 8212; just went wide, giving the American a spot of divine blessing and a dose of Indian hospitality.

This piece of action replay followed a similar situation when the Indian held two break points at 4-3. This time too, the result was the same as Chicoine held and Fazaluddin was left to toil on.

The Indian had things his way till, after an exchange of breaks, he served for a 5-4 lead in the second set. With the optimistic MSLTA attendants bringing in the trophies, presuming an early end to the final, good humour set in with the anticipation of a well wished for result.

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Fazaluddin went down 15-40, picked himself up to deuce and all was well with the world. Two forehands out, break for Chicoine and nothing was right.

The 23-year-old American, who made two semi-finals and one final before the Masters, served out the set and prematurely but emphatically let out a victory cry.

Chicoine put on a T-shirt a few sizes small, but it was Fazaluddin who felt cramped for space as the American broke serve early 2-1 in the decider after giving the Indian three chances to hold serve.

That lead, crucial till the end, would not have mattered in the end if not for the line moving a little. Or so Fazaluddin and the spectators would like to believe.

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Results seeding in prefix; country, ranking in parenthesisMen8217;s singles final: 3-Tom Chicoine US, 500 bt Syed Fazaluddin Ind, 418 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.