Archive for the ‘Tennis’ Category
Sania goes down fighting in singles final
-biting women’s singles tennis final
3-6, 6-2, 6-7 (3) to Australia’s Anastasia Rodionova at the Commonwealth Games here Saturday.
The 23-year-old-Indian, world ranked 137, had to content with a silver at the Games where tennis had made its debut.
With a set-all, the momentum shifted dramatically in the decider. The two players shared four breaks of serve before the match went into the tie-breaker, where the Australian prevailed and even earned a thunderous applause from the partisan crowd which cheered on her every error.
It was a heartbreaking loss for Sania, who rallied against the top seeded Australian, world ranked 62. With spectators from the overflowing stands cheering Sania, the Indian was up a break in the decider but allowed the advantage let slip.
Sania, however, won the hearts of those packed the centre court. The guests included Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalamadi, actress Nafisa Ali and Olympic silver medallist shooter Rajyavardahn Singh Rathore.
“It was an honour playing for the country. The important thing is that I gave my best, though I fell short.” Sania said.
Both the players showed nerves in the beginning with neither able to hold serve in the first three games of the match.
Sania’s serve again let her down, as she was not able to hold her service even once in the first set, and a stream of errors flew from her racquet in her attempt to go for outright winners.
With crowd firmly behind her and cheering for her on every point, the Indian raised her game by several notches in the second set and broke the Australian in the third and the seventh game, making it a set all.
Ironically, she double faulted when she was serving to stay in the match.
Rodionova, who is a Russian by birth, said: “I have been working hard. Now I feel like a real Australian after winning the Commonwealth Games gold.”
The bronze medal match between Australians Sally Peers and Olivia Rogowska will take place later in the evening.
CWG Tennis: Historic first gold for Somdev
India’s Somdev Devvarman Sunday created history by becoming the first player to win a gold medal in the men’s singles at the Commonwealth Games tennis competition, which made its debut in this edition. Somdev outclassed Australia’s Greg Jones 6-4, 6-2.
It is also India’s first gold in tennis which has been so far dominated by the Australians. Sania Mirza had to be content with a silver in the women’s singles while Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi settled for a bronze. Sania, partnering Rushmi Chakravarthi claimed women’s doubles bronze with a 6-4, 6-2 win over compatriots Nirupama Sanjeev and Poojashree Venkatesha here Sunday.
Stakes were high for Somdev and he did it is style in front of a packed stadium.
“I took my chances. I am happy to win a gold for my country. It is a great honour for me to represent my country in international events. I will be happy to do it again.”
The 97th-ranked Indian made a quiet start and cleverly kept the ball in play as the towering Australian, ranked 234, went for ambitious hitting in trying to be aggressive. The Indian also muffled the Jones’ strategy to bring him to the net with some delectable passing shots as he dictated from the baseline.
After failing to convert three break points in the fifth game and saving one on his serve immediately, the 25-year-old Indian effected the decisive break in the seventh game. A whipping backhand pass set up the breakpoint and an erratic forehand crosscourt from Jones gifted the break to the Indian who then served out the set with an easy put away to a deafening roar from the packed stadium.
Jones after stretching for a forehand volley at 15-30 in the first game of the second set felt some discomfort in his knee and called for a trainer. He was soon back only to meet a belligerent Indian, who gave away nothing, and the Australian could do little but go through the motions.
However, serving for the match at 5-0, the nerves got the better of Somdev, and he dropped it. He then served out the set in his next service game and went sprawling on the court in elation as Jones smacked a forehand long.