Doubles title for Tahir; Bhatia rallies to make final

MUMBAI: Top seed Himanshu Bhatia had a fight on his hands facing off against

Yati Gujarathi

and had to dig deep to win in the super tie-breaker to make the final of the 45+ men's singles in the Jayant Roy Memorial S 400 Mumbai ITF Tennis Tournament, being played at the MSLTA and Woodehouse Gymkhana, here, on Tuesday.


After losing the first set 4-6, Bhatia got into rhythm early in the second, serving well and also stroking fluently from the baseline to run away with the set 6-1. His form continued in the super tie-breaker, prevailing 10-3 to set up a title clash with second seed Nittten Kirrtane, whose all round game helped him record a facile 6-0, 6-1 victory over Amit Tambe.

In the clash between two renowned coaches,

Tahir Ali

got the better of Dosa Ramarao in the men's 70+ semi-finals, winning a marathon encounter 2-6, 6-2, 10-3. Tahir Ali stll had enough left in the tank to team up with Govind Krishna Kumar and defeat Ramarao and Khushrow Shroff 6-1, 6-2 to win the 70+ men's doubles title.

The men's 55+ semi-finals saw former badminton international Bhushan Akut go down to Nagaraj Revanasiddaiah 4-6, 3-6. In the final, Nagraj will take on Chandra Bhushan, who beat USA's Nirmal Kumar Rajan 7-5, 3-0 (conceded).

In women's action, Japan's Mayuka Sakai blanked

Samala Kale

6-0, 6-0 to make the semi-finals of the 45+ singles.

Results:

Men's Singles 45+ Semi Finals

Himashu Bhatia (IND) bt Yati Gujarathi (IND) 4-6, 6-1, 10-3; Nitten Kirrtane (IND) bt Amit Tambe (IND) 6-0, 6-1;

Men's Single 55+ Semi Final

Nagaraj Revanasiddaiah (IND) bt Bhushan Akut (IND) 6-4, 6-3; Chandra Bhushan (IND) bt Nirmal Kumar Rajan (USA) 7-5, 3-0 (Conceded);

Women's Single 35+

Sowmya Kamad Rao (IND) bt Namrata Garud (IND) 6-1 6-3; Priyanka Mehta (IND) bt Aruna Bhaskar Gangapatnam (IND) 6-3, 6-0;

Women's Single 45+ Quarter Finals

Mayuka Sakai (JPN) bt

Shamala Kale

(IND) 6-0, 6-0; Prerana Apte (IND) bt

Sonal Vohra

(IND) 6-2, 6-0;

Men's Single 70+ Semi Finals

Tahir Ali (IND) bt

Ramarao Dosa

(IND) 2-6, 6-2, 10-3; Govind Krishna Kumar (IND) bt Dhaval Patel (IND) 6-0, 6-1;

Men's Doubles 70 Final

Tahir Ali (IND)/Govind Krishna Kumar (IND) bt Ramarao Dosa (IND)/Khushrow Shroff (IND) 6-1, 6-2.