Srinath bows out

AHMEDABAD, DEC 24: Prahlad Srinath went for the Himalayan rally with his fuel tank showing red. After the grueling drive around the circu...

AHMEDABAD, DEC 24: Prahlad Srinath went for the Himalayan rally with his fuel tank showing red. After the grueling drive around the circuit all through the year with few stoppages, the only possible eventuality was a breakdown. It happened today as Anthony Dupuis of France whizzed past the struggling Indian 6-4 6-2 to enter the semi-final of the Bharat Petroleum ATP Challenger at the AGETA courts today.

The second-seeded Dupuis now plays Eyal Ran of Israel, a 6-2 1-6 6-2 winner over compatriot Ofer Sela. In the other quarter-finals, the seemingly unstoppable Oleg Ogorodov had another business-like 6-0 6-2 win over last year’s runners-up Oren Motevassel while qualifier Dimitri Tomashevic’s extended stay was curtailed by Kantero Masuda of Japan 6-4, 6-1.

Dupuis came into the match with a history of making mountains out of molehills. Lesser rivals have stretched things a bit too far against him. While Srinath, with his “just go out and play” policy was, if not on cloud nine, certainly on four orfive.

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“I was surely under pressure after not performing well in the first two matches,” said Dupuis after the match.

But Srinath gave him leg space, as a double fault in the first game at 30-40 gave Dupuis the first break. Srinath was broken again in the fifth game and Dupuis nosed ahead to lead 3-2. After that, the Indian tried to break back but Dupuis’ high percentage of first serves did not allow that. Serving for the set, Dupuis came with two good serves and an ace to seal the issue at 6-4.

Srinath made a confident start to the second, winning his first service game at love. But Dupuis broke Srinath in the second game and the writing was on the wall — it was over for the Indian. Srinath was once again broken as Dupuis took the second set at 6-2.

Results

Singles quarter-finals: K Masuda (Japan) bt D Tomeshevic (Uzbekistan) 6-4, 6-1; O Ogrorodov (Uzbekistan) bt O Motevassel (Israel) 6-0, 6-2; E Ran bt O Sela 6-2, 1-6, 6-2; A Dupuis bt P Srinath 6-4, 6-2.

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Doubles(quarter-finals): N Okun & N Welgreen bt H Kaneko & M Takada 7-5, 6-2; B Cowan & M Maclagan bt I ljubicic & G Motomora 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (8-6).

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