Shruti Ahlawat wins maiden ITF women’s title

NEW DELHI, MAY 3:

Sixth seed Shruti Ahlawat played close to her best to beat Zuzanna Kolonus of Poland 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(3) in an entertaining final of the HCL $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex on Sunday.

In front of an appreciative audience which included a lot of kids assembled at the venue for a junior event, the 19-year-old Shruti was able to assert her strong game with a gritty fare, in capturing her maiden title in the professional circuit.

After a bright career as a junior when she rose to No.48 in the world and played the Australian Open junior event in 2023, Shruti had lost a lot of time to injury. She had made the quarterfinals of her first two women’s tournaments as a junior in 2022, and could return to the circuit only three years later.

There have been missed opportunities, as Shruti had slipped from a position of strength in the final against Zeel Desai in September last year in Gurugram. She then lost to Ksenia Efremova in the semifinals in Delhi in December. She had lost the semifinals to the eventual champion Michika Ozeki of Japan in the tournament last week in Panipat.

With coach Ashutosh Singh present at the venue and people cheering for her, Shruti could find the elusive rhythm and energy for her big game against an opponent who made her work for every point. The match was liberally dotted with spectacular rallies as both the players struck the ball with delightful fluency.

In a battle of wits that lasted two hours and 29 minutes, Shruti had seven aces and 11 double faults. She converted six of 10 break points. The 20-year-old Zuzanna did not hit an ace and had eight double faults. She converted seven of 11 break points. Zuzanna won a total of 119 points in the match, five more than Shruti.

Despite unleashing the big serve on the key points, Shruti was unable to serve out the match when leading 5-3 in the decider. If was an otherwise fine revival for her, after Kolonus had broken for 3-2 earlier in the set.

Eventually, Shruti dominated the tie-break as she led 4-0 and 5-2, before sailing through.

Kolonus was unable to capitalise on her chances this day. She could not serve out the first set when she led 5-4. Shruti gained the advantage by winning the three games at that juncture.

Into the second set, Shruti’s level dropped a bit and Zuzanna fired on all cylinders to clinch it with relative ease.

With more international events being hosted in the country, with one in Tumkur next, Shruti will have plenty of chances to improve her status on the WTA computer.

The President (Strategy) of HCL, Sundar Mahalingam, presented the trophies.

The results (final): Shruti Ahlawat bt Zuzanna Kolonus 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(3).

Credits: Kamesh Srinivasan