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Journalism of Courage
Despite threatening skies, today8217;s ITF Futures final here did not last long enough for the weather to interrupt it. Ashutosh Singh8217;s first final was short, but certainly not sweet as it was China8217;s Sun Peng who cruised to a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory.
Throughout the course of this week, the Indian player had put up a fine display of tennis, but his usual ease at the net was absent today. The match went with serve till 2-2 in the first set, but thereafter, Ashutosh8217;s game fell apart.
Little changed as the second set got underway, with Peng having so trouble with his serve and forcing points during his opponent8217;s service games.
Ashutosh had already lost the plot, and even though he made some attempts to bring in a bit of aggression into his game, it was all in vain.
Peng8217;s powerful play from the baseline claimed an early break, giving him a 2-0 lead. For a while, it appeared as though Ashutosh would be at the receiving end of a second-set whitewash, but he managed to claim a single game by a rare volley winner, making it 5-1.
The inevitable, though, was not too far away8212;Peng advancing to the net to hit a volley and claim the match 6-2, 6-1, just as a slight drizzle began. 8220;He was returning my serve really early, and I started having problems when he started flattening his backhand. He8217;s a much better player than his ranking suggests, and I guess I felt the pressure. I hope I can put up a good show at next week8217;s Futures in Jassowal,8221; said Ashutosh, speaking after his match.
