It is a fitting reward for the hardworking Saketh Myneni, who was
named in the six-member Davis Cup team for the Asia/Oceania group I
match against Chinese Taipei. Myneni, who had played US Collegiate tennis a few years ago, said it is a great chance to play alongside Rohan Bopanna.
The 26-year-old, who was a reserve in the tie against New Zealand in
2012, will team up with the experienced Rohan Bopanna. “It is an honour
to be named in the Davis Cup squad,’’ said Myneni, who is coached by CV
Nagaraj.
Surely, his impressive performances with Russian partner Karen
Khachanov in the Chennai Open, where they upset the top-seeded pair of
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, summoned the selectors’
attention.
Myneni, who had played US Collegiate tennis a few years ago, said it
is a great chance to play alongside Rohan Bopanna. “He is a brother,
friend and mentor for me. We trained off-season in Hyderabad this
winter. He is a wonderful player. I have learnt a lot from him. Bops is a
huge inspiration,” he said.
Myneni, who according to coach Nagaraj has a kicking service and a
fine all-round game, felt that playing in Davis Cup makes a lot of
difference to one’s career. “Psychologically, it boosts your morale and
the game. It is a team event and there is tremendous team spirit. I’m
looking forward to the Indore tie under a new captain (Anand Amritraj).”
He said his game has improved a lot, particularly on the physical
side. “I have become stronger. It is important to be injury-free for the
whole season. I worked a lot on all aspects of my game. I made sure
that I developed, not only one particular aspect of the game but also
all aspects of my game. I would like to keep a higher percentage of my
serve. At the end of the day, I have to play smart tennis to be
consistent in top-level tennis. I’m totally not relying on serves
because the game has become a physical sport now. It needs an overall
development,’’ Myneni said.
Myneni insisted that singles will be his priority. “I will use my doubles game to improve my singles game.’’
The Hyderabad-based player, who climbed to a career-high ranking of
263 in July 2013, hopes to break into top 200. “I’m 316 now. I would
like to break in to top 200 this year. I would like to take my game to
the next level. The transition from a Challenger to an ATP Tour player
is huge. The intensity is important and physically you have to be very
fit. You have to win three to four matches in a row to make it to that
level,’’ he added.
Myneni agreed that planning is crucial to any player. “It is very
important to take critical decisions in planning out the tournaments to
make sure that you go forward.’’
The tall player said the Premier Tennis League at Pune is an opportunity for young players.
“It is a different concept. It is fun as well as competitive,’’ he remarked.
Hyderabad:Andhra
Pradesh’s Bhuvana Kalva and her partner seasoned campaigner Rushmi
Chakravarthi clinched the women’s doubles title at the National Grass
Court Tennis Championship in Kolkata on Saturday.
In the
final, fourth seeds Bhuvana and Rushmi defeated the second seeded duo of
Nidhi Chilumula, also of AP, and Goa’s Natasha Palha 6-2, 7-6 (4) to
emerge champions.
In the singles, Vishnu Vardhan fired in a record
25 aces en route to thrashing Jayaprakash Mohit Mayur and emerge the
men’s champion while Natasha defeated Rushmi in straight sets to emerge
as the new national champion in the women’s singles.
In 2009,
Ashutosh Singh had served 11 aces to win the tournament but it was
Vardhan’s day as he took an early break at one game all for a 3-1 lead
before winning 6-4.
Second seed Natasha ruled the roost against veteran Rushmi to clinch the issue 6-1, 6-1 in one hour and two minutes.
Results
Men’s
singles: Vishnu Vardhan (TN)(3) bt Jayaprakash Mohit Mayur (TN) (2)
6-4, 7-6 (4); Women’s singles: Natash Palha (GOA) (2) bt Rushmi
Chakravarthi (TN)(7) 6-1, 6-1; Men’s doubles: Ronak Manuja (MAH) &
Ashwin Vijayragavan (AP) (1) bt Vijay Sundar Prashanth & Md Fariz
(TN) (2) 7-6 (2), 6-4; Women’s doubles: Rushmi Chakravarthi (TN) &
Bhuvana Kalva (AP)(4) bt Natasha Palha (GOA) & Nidhi Chilumula
(AP)(2) 6-2, 7-6(4).
The Hindu
REASON TO SMILE: Natasha Palha and Vishnu Vardhan with their trophies. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish
TOPICS
Third-seeded Vishnu Vardhan of Tamil Nadu regained the
men’s singles crown, downing second-seeded Statemate J. Mohit Mayur in
the final of the National grasscourt tennis at South Club on Saturday.
Natasha
Palha of Goa became the new women’s champion, blowing away six-time
winner Rushmi Chakravarthy of Tamil Nadu in straight sets.
Vishnu,
who served 18 aces, showed great maturity and amazing control during
his two-hour serve-and-volley game. Vishnu’s best came in the eighth
game of the second set when he fired four successive aces.
“I have never seen any one serving four successive aces to win a game in South Club,” said Akhtar Ali, former Davis Cupper.
Mohit
had problems with his serve. Vishnu broke him in the third game to take
a 2-1 lead and held his own service games to win the first set 6-4.
Vishnu
continued to dominate in the second set, serving 12 aces to retain the
edge over Mohit. But the Tamil Nadu lad raised his game and took the set
to tiebreaker. Vishnu, once again, served well to claim the set 7-4.
“This
was my second appearance and I won the title on both occasions. This
win feels even better as I could lift the crown without my service being
broken in the tournament,” said Vishnu.
Natasha
Palha, who had lost the final against Ankita Raina in the previous
edition, did not miss the opportunity this time as she downed Rushmi
Chakravarthi in straight sets.
“The win feels nice as
this was my first National title at any level. I made too many errors
last year (against Ankita) and I did not want to waste the opportunity
this time,” Natasha said after her win.
Natasha
could not complete a double crown as she and Nidhi Chilumula of Andhra
Pradesh lost the doubles final against Rushmi and Bhuvana Kalva (Andhra
Pradesh).
The results (finals): Men: Vishnu Vardhan (TN) bt J. Mohit Mayur (TN)) 6-4, 7-6(4). Doubles: Ronak Manuja (Mah) & Ashwin Vijayragavan (AP) bt N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth & Mohammad Fariz (TN) 7-6(2), 6-4.
Vishnu Vardhan, Natasha Palha win National Grass Court titles
Kolkata, Jan 18, 2014: Tennis player Vishnu Vardhan won the men's
singles title of National Grass Court championship at the South Club
here on Saturday.
In men's singles category, Tamil Nadu's Vishnu
beat state compatriot and second seed Jayprakash Mohit Mayur 6-4,7-6 (4)
in the final clash.
In the women's singles. Natasha Palha from Goa won the championship beating Rushmi Chakraborty.
The men's final witnessed 25 aces as Vishnu himself banged 18 aces to become the national champion yet again.
An early break at one game all gave Vishnu a lead of 3-1, with which he eventually won the opening by 6-4.
The second went neck-to-neck, where Vishnu served 12 aces and the 2nd seeded Jayaprakash Mohit Mayur served exactly the half.
At the breaker, it was 4-4, from where Vishnu pulled out the next 3 consecutive points with flawless serves and volleys.
Vishnu won the match by 6-4, 7-6(4).
In
women's singles final, it was a one sided affair which lasted for just
1hour 2minutes, where Natasha Palha from Goa, the second seed of the
draw brushed aside the experienced and 7th seeded Rushmi Chakravarthi, a
Tamil Nadu icon by a dominating 6-1, 6-1, to be crowned the national
champion.
