ITF Manipal Open Tennis Tournament: Rohan wins Singles

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 29 May 2011: The second seed, Rohan Gajjar completed a memorable double when he defeated the fourth seed , Vijayant Malik 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 126 minutes and claimed the men’s singles title in the Corporation Bank-ITF Manipal Open tennis championship which concluded at MARENA Sports Complex courts here on Saturday. Gajjar, had earlier won the men’s doubles title partnering Vitali Reshetnikov of Russia on Friday.

 

 

The singles final, though failed to rise any spectacular level, had its engrossing moments. There was little chose to between Gajjar ( ATP rank 552 ) and Malik,(732) who knew each other’s game well. If Malik was consistent with his returns and had the heart to go any length to retrieve, Gajjar proved the aggressive of the two, as he volleyed strongly and hit his ground strokes with power and had a high degree of success with his big first serve and blasted half a dozen aces during the course of the match.

 

As Gajjar aptly observed after the tie ``it was a game of punch and counter punch, and I had to make sure that I did not pull back any punches". Gajjar also showed the ability to raise the level of his game in crunch situation and going into the decider, he looked sharper and fitter of the two as he closed in for the ` kill’.

 

 

Gajjar suffered a major setback in the first set, when he dropped his serve in the second game of the match after starting brightly with an ace. Malik simply had to retain his serve after that breakthrough and he did that with little bit of luck as well as Gajjar very nearly broke him in the fifth and seventh games, but missed out on those chances. After losing the first set ( 3-6), Gajjar came back strongly in the second set and broke Malik in the eighth game. After Malik conceded a break point, slamming areturn out, Gajjar , firing a forehand winner, took the game for a 5-3 lead and finished the set in style on his serve in the ninth ( 6-3).

 

The momentum was very much with Gajjar in the decider as he broke Malik in the first game and simply stayed ahead. He did come under some pressure in the eighth game, when he survived three he break points and held the serve for a 5-3 lead . Malik seemed to have ran out of ideas in the ninth as he dropped the serves tamely with a double fault and couple of miss hits, which saw Gajjar emerge as the worthy champion. It was Gajjar’s second ITF win of the season and he had earlier won a similar event in Malaysia. Gajjar also was richer by $ 1300, which he won as prize money , while Malik claimed $ 900.

 

Dr.V.S.Acharaya, the Minister of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, presided and gave away the prizes. Mr. C.S. Sunder Raju, secretary of the KSLTA, Mr. P.K. Gopal, DGM of Corporation Bank which was the title sponsor, Dr.H.S. Ballal Pro Vice Chancellor of the Manipal Unveristy were the other chief guests. Mr. Sunil Yajaman, CEO of Zygosports Unlimited and the tournament Director, welcomed.