Sourabh Singh, Isha Lakhani
emerge champions
Third seed Sourabh Singh outclassed Tushar Liberhan while top seed Isha Lakhani had to
fight hard against Kartiki Bhat before winning the boys and girls' singles titles
respectively in the ITF Junior tennis grade-3 tournament in Delhi, on Friday.
Sourabh Singh, who had ousted spirited Israeli player Dor
Wethimer in the semi-finals on Thursday, display his power game and gave no chances to his Chandigarh mate, beating him 6-2, 6-2 in a battle that lastes barerly an hour.
"I had an easy victory. I intended to keep the ball high
today. But never expected him (Liberhan) to play so meekly," a
beaming Sourab Singh said.
Lakhani had to play tough tennis with a swollen right
ankle, as Bhat was not ready to give up easily and gave a
second set scare before succumbing 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in a match
that lasted two hours and 10 minutes.
The top seed started by breaking Bhat's opening
serve. Though Bhat tried to come back through powerful
volleys, Lakhani took the set through brilliant placements.
Bhat then struck form to outplay a desperate-looking
Lakhani and take the second set. But Lakhani proved her class
in the next set to win the title.
"This is my first ITF grade-3 title. Bhat gave me a tough
fight. Though I played with a swollen ankle, I am glad I could
manage," said Lakhani.