ITF Manipal Open Tennis Tournament – 2011: Semi-final results

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 27 May 2011: The second seed, Rohan Gajjar and the fourth seed, Vijayant Malik set up a title clash in the Corporation Bank-ITF Manipal Open tennis championship at MARENA sports complex courts here on Friday. The two took contrasting routes to the final with Gajjar subduing the third seed, Niki Takuto of Japan in a hard-fought three setter lasting 186 minutes at 7-6 (2), 3-6,6-4 while Vijayant Malik, who practices with Gajjar at Siri Fort courts in Delhi, beat an injury hit top seed V.M. Ranjeeth 6-1,6-2.

 

It was Gajjar, who called the shots initially when he broke Tatuko in the first game of the tie and went on to take a 4-2 lead but Tatuko hit back in the eighth game, after forcing three deuces. The set then went with serves till the tie-breaker (6-all). In the tie-breaker, it was Gajjar all the way. Two big serves saw him grab 6-1 lead and he wrapped up the set at 7-6 ( 7-2).

 

 

The decider again witnessed a battle of wits, as Gajjar sensibly finished off big points without rallying with his rival too much and a break in the third game gave him a decisive advantage and he simply held on, playing with lot of patience and perseverance and won the set at 6-4 , but not without another disputed call, when he aced his rival at deuce and Tatuko arguing that it should be called out. The chair umpire did not relent and Gajjar finished the set and match with another ace.

 

The 21-year old Vijayant Malik made his maiden ITF final at the expense of the top seed V.M.Ranjeeth. The National hard court champion, Ranjeeth, pulled right shoulder muscle, while serving in the second game of the match and his game never the same again. Ranjeeth, struggled with his overheads and also his back hand, which had considerably lost the sting, after the shoulder problem. Trailing 0-5 in the first set, he called for medical time out and sought an on court treatment, which only helped him to go through the motions and not any further. Ranjeeth, bowed out after a 70-minute stint on court.