Fazaluddin suffers from Derepasko

MUMBAI, MAY 30: Artem Derepasko Russia did on the G A Ranade Tennis Centre hardcourts what he could not on his favourite surface, clay,...

MUMBAI, MAY 30: Artem Derepasko Russia did on the G A Ranade Tennis Centre hardcourts what he could not on his favourite surface, clay, at Bangalore last week. He won.

The Russian took the fizz out of Syed Fazaluddin Ind 6-2, 7-5 in the 6,250 ITF Men8217;s Satellite Circuit second-leg tennis final today. In the process, he made amends for his second placing last week and took his first Satellite crown in five finals.

The man who ended last year as the world No 5 junior, topped here with some crackling returns of serve, mostly on the backhand and chiefly in the second set. Ironically, it was in the second set that the Indian threatened a revival, like the one he affected in the semi-final against top seed Prahlad Srinath.

Up 5-3 with one break of serve, Fazaluddin looked like he was still in the match and seemed set to scale the heavens. One game later, he was brought crashing down to earth.

Three successive backhand bombers, including one return which could be added to the Russian army8217;s ammunition,sent the third seeded Indian back to the ropes. And left him fishing, incidentally, the Russian8217;s favourite pastime. Level at 5-5. The Russian held serve and the ball was on the Indian8217;s court.Fazaluddin, who till then had served better than he did in the first set, fired two double faults, one immediately after a soft-as-feather backhand drop volley. He trailed by a match point after leading 30-15, hit a half-volley out and then Derepasko repeated his backhand act 8212; this time a lob. The end came an hour and eight minutes after the first serve for Derepasko to collect Rs 32,400.

Derepasko8217;s returns gave him the first break in the opening set and though Fazaluddin had one game point at 2-5, he netted a double fault. He saved one break point, then followed up a good serve with an odd return, enough for Derepasko to finish.

8220;I wasn8217;t feeling 100 per cent. And since I wasn8217;t serving too well, he could win points by just keeping ball in play as I could not cover the net too well,8221; said Fazaluddin, afterthe match.

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There were moments when he did feel good though. He threw down his cap, tied a bandanna, went on to slam two aces and level scores at 2-2 in the second set. Two games later, he broke serve.

But the Russian, who likes ice hockey, stayed cool. Just waited for his time and completed the job. With a 6-5 record against Marat Safin, and a semi-final appearance at the French Open juniors last year, just concentrated and 8220;got it right8221;.

Result seedings prefix; country, ranking in parenthesis
Men8217;s singles final: 2-Artem Derepasko Rus, 563 bt 3-Syed Fazaluddin Ind, 618 6-2, 7-5.