JOIN USTop seed Dakshineshwar Suresh of Tamil Nadu clinched the boys’ singles title and Shivani Manjanna of Karnataka bagged a fine double in the KTPPA-AITA under-18 junior tennis tournament at the KSLTA courts here on Friday.
Dakshineshwar subdued a late rally from his Tamil Nadu team-mate Pranesh Babu to win 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 in the final while Shivani warded off a stiff challenge from Mubashira Anjum Shaikh of Telangana for a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1 victory in the corresponding girls’ final.
Shivani had earlier won the girls’ doubles title, with partner Rashmika Rajan on Thursday.
The lanky Dakshineshwar was in his elements as he swept past Pranesh Babu swiftly to win the first set 6-1. Pranesh, however, came back strongly in the second set, breaking his rival in the fourth game to take a 4-2 lead and closed the set in his favour at 6-4. In the decider, Pranesh failed to keep up the momentum as Dakshineshwar raised his game by a notch to win the set and match 6-2.
In the girls’ final, Shivani was tested by Anjum, who is ranked No 1 in Telangana. Shivani took the first set 6-4 and was well in control in the second set, leading 5-2. Anjum made a strong comeback with her consistent returns and levelled at 5-all and kept her charge to win the set 7-6 (4) in tie-breaker.
In the decider, Shivani grabbed a 3-1 lead and never looked back as she romped ahead to a 6-1 victory.