Third-seeded Sushant Dabas adopted a positive attacking approach, which worked in his favour as he overpowered fourth-seeded Dvesh Gahlot in straight sets in an all-Haryana boys’ singles final of the MSLTA – Yonex Sunrise 12th Ramesh Desai Memorial CCI All India Nationals Under-16 Tennis Tournament 2018.
Boys singles’ winner Sushant Dabas and runner-up Divesh Gahlot proudly pose with their trophies along with CCI President, Premal Udani (left), MSLTA President, Bharat Oza (2nd right) and Chetan Desai, son of Ramesh Desai, during the prize distribution function of the MSLTA – All India Nationals Under-16 (boys & girls) Tennis Tournament
Maharashtra’s Sudipta played with plenty of grit and determination as she fought back to overcome Sandeepti Rao of Haryana 7-5, 7-6(3) in the girls’ singles final. The Mumbai-based Sudipta after trailing 2-5 bounced back by winning five consecutive games to take the first set. In the second she led 5-3, but seemed to have lost focus and allowed her rival to recover and force the tiebreaker. However, she regained her composure and won the tie-breaker 7-3 to win the set and clinch the girl’s singles crown.
The lad from Gurgaon, Sushant, ranked sixth on the AITA ranking list, was aggressive from the start and hardly gave his Sonipet rival Divesh, ranked one place below, the chance to settle down and raced to a 6-1, 6-3 win in 70 minutes, at the Cricket Club of India tennis courts, Churchgate on Saturday evening.
Sushant broke Divesh’s serve four times; first, third, fifth and seventh games, and dropped his serve in the second game as he pocketed the first set.
The humid condition seemed to take a toll on the players and Sushant seemed to tire a bit in the second, but he still managed to call the shots. Divesh changed tactics and put up a bit of fight, but was unable to stop Sushant from running away with the set and the match. The Gurgaon player managed to break Divesh in the second and fourth games to open up a 3-1 lead. He then saved five breaks points on his service game before he managed to hold and consolidate the lead to 4-1. Thereafter, both players managed to hold their serves and Sushant gradually went on to win the set and wrap up the match to emerge champion.
Sushant and Sudipta for their efforts earned 200 AITA ranking points each, while Divesh and Sandeepti received 150 points each.
Results – Boys’ singles (finals): 3-Sushant Dabas (HR) bt 4-Divesh Gahlot (HR) 6-1, 6-3.
Girls’ singles (finals): Sudipta Senthil Kumar (MH) bt Sandeepti Rao (HR) 7-5, 7-6(3).