Sunil, Sonal script swinging success

MUMBAI, Nov 7: Probably the presence of noted lyricist Gulzar helped, as most of the winners won on a song at the JS Pereira sub-junior and ...

MUMBAI, Nov 7: Probably the presence of noted lyricist Gulzar helped, as most of the winners won on a song at the JS Pereira sub-junior and mini National Ranking tennis tournament at the Bandra Gymkhana hardcourts today.

Chandigarh8217;s Sunil Kumar quelled the challenge of local lad Benjamin Xavier for the boys8217; under-16 title. The latter, winner at the just concluded National Ranking event at Practennis, here in Mumbai, looked out of sorts as he succumbed to the second seed Sunil in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.

Top seed Sonal Phadke once again asserted her supremacy in the girls8217; under-16 event as she brushed aside Liza Pereira, also of Mumbai, 6-0, 6-0. Incidentally, Sonal had scored a similar drubbing over her opponent in the final at Practennis, Andheri.

Benjamin, however, failed in his bid of an encore. 8220;Everything went wrong for me today,8221; the ex-BAT Britannia-Amritraj Tennis trainee said after his 62-minute battle. 8220;The first few games were decisive. I lost them. That made things verydifficult.8221;

It was for the seventh time both Benjamin and Sunil were clashing in a National Ranking event. And both had scored three times over the other before this match.

8220;He Benjamin is the only under-16 player on the circuit who gives me a tough time,8221; revealed the 15-year-old Sunil. 8220;But today, he was not playing well.8221;

While Sunil started the match with an attacking game, Benjamin struggled to find his rhythm. With the latter making a lot of unforced errors, the Chandigarh lad changed tactics and started indulging in baseline rallies which eventually won him the game.

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But a fighter to the core, Benjamin did try to make things difficult for the match favourite. At 5-0, Benjamin took the next two games, surviving a match point along the way. But Sunil was never in trouble as Benjamin did himself in with a double fault to see his opponent pocket Rs 2,500 in prize-money and 15 AITA points. Benjamin had to settle for 12 points and Rs 1,500.

In the girls8217; section, it was another remarkableeffort by Sonal as she clutched on to the under-16 trophy. Earlier, she also entered the State Ranking women8217;s final beating fourth seed Jitisha Shelarkha 6-4, 6-4.

Top seed in girls8217; under-14 section, Megha Vakharia also did a Sonal8217; act as she emerged champion with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Andhra Pradesh8217;s Sasha Abraham. Megha had earlier reigned supreme in the same category at Practennis.

It was a fine double for Chandigarh as top seed Amanjyot Singh made short work of West Bengal8217;s Saurav Sukul 6-2, 6-1 to clinch the boys8217; under-14 crown.

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Most of the players, later, rushed on to Delhi for the next leg of the circuit which gets under way tomorrow. The youngsters are expected to sign-in tomorrow.

Results

Boys8217; under-16 final: 2-Sunil Kumar Chd bt 5-Benjamin Xavier Mah 6-0, 6-2.

Under-14 final: 1-Amanjyot Singh Chd bt Saurav Sukul WB 6-2, 6-1.Girls8217; under-16 final: 1-Sonal Phadke Mah bt 3-Lisa Pereira Mah 6-0, 6-0.Under-14: 1-Megha Vakharia bt 6-Sasha Abraham 6-3, 6-4.StateRankingWomen semi-finals: 1-Sonal Phadke bt 4-Jitisha Shelarkha 6-4, 6-4.Under-12 semi-finals: 3-Niddhi Shah bt 2-Tulsi Mehta 6-2, 6-3.