Srinath enters last eight

AHMEDABAD, JAN 20: Prahlad Srinath needs to file his nails after his pre-quarterfinal match of the Gold Flake Aces ITF Futures Tennis Tou...

AHMEDABAD, JAN 20: Prahlad Srinath needs to file his nails after his pre-quarterfinal match of the Gold Flake Aces ITF Futures Tennis Tournament at the AGETA courts today. First he dug a deep hole for himself with his own hands but then he amazingly clawed out of it. The effort buried Michel Kratochvil of Canada and the Indian bagged one of the last eight spots in the 10,000 event.

A break in the fifth game gave Srinath the first set at 6-4 but then disaster struck. Kratochvil took nine games in a row which saw him pocket the second set 6-0 and with a break lead 3-0 in the decider. Then the Canadian froze and a fired up Srinath took the set at 6-4.

Another crowd favourite here, Pakistan8217;s Aisam Qureshi failed to cross the second hurdle. In a battle of qualifiers Qureshi lost to the Scot Barron on Ireland 4-6, 4-6. The Qualifier8217;s Club had one more representation in the last eight as Kaskak overcame Kauffmann of Germany 6-1, 6-2.

The rest of the seeds took places reserved for them. The seed sproutingmeant fall for India8217;s Nitin Kirtane. The qualifier lost to Italian Messori Filippo in straight sets 3-6 3-6.

Indian Davis Cup star Srinath came to Ahmedabad after two weeks of rest and seemed rusty in his first outing. To add to his woes the injuries sustained after a hectic 8217;98 were still there for company.

The Indian presence in the doubles section came to an end with Harsh Mankad and Syed Fazaluddin losing in the first round.

Results Pre-quarterfinals

Men singles: Prahlad Srinath India bt Joseph Robichaud Canada 6-4 0-6 6-4; Michel Kratochvil Switzerland bt Simon Larose Canada 0-6 6-4 6-2; Kaskak Filip Slovakia bt Cedric Kauffman France 6-1 6-2; Jonathan Erlich Isreal bt Martin Hormec Slovakia 6-7 3 6-4 6-2; Boris Borgula Slovakia bt Densi Udamchoke Thailand 6-3 6-4; Amir Hadad Israel bt Simon Aspelin Sweden 6-3 6-2; Messori Filippo Italy bt Nitin Kirtane India 6-3 6-3; Scot Barren Ireland bt Aisam Qureshi Pakistan 6-4 6-4.

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Men Doubles: SimonLarose amp; Joseph Robichaud bt Harsh Mankad amp; Bates 6-3 6-3; Meringoff amp; Rueb bt Kauffmann amp; Syed Fazaluddin 6-2 6-2; Aspelin amp; Martin Lee bt Chvapil amp; Hernychg 6-4, 6-4.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More