Three titles in two weeks for Mahak Jain

Two-time National champion Mahak Jain asserted herself with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Sada Nahimana of Burundi in the final of the $15,000 ITF women’s tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was the second successive singles title for the 18-year-old Mahak who had won the tournament last week at the same venue.

It was a much superior performance this week as Mahak, who is coached by Sajid Lodi in Indore, conceded only 12 games in all to her five opponents, as compared to18 last week. In fact, she had beaten the same opponent in the final for the loss of five games last week.

Celestine Avomo Ella of Gabon was the only player to stretch Mahak this week, as she took seven games in the quarterfinals.

Mahak had more reasons to be happy as she won the doubles title with Sathwika Sama.

After a not so impressive season, it was a smart return to winning ways for Mahak, who had made the semifinals of the $25,000 tournament in Navi Mumbai in December last year.

Meanwhile, in the doubles final of the Challenger in Meerbusch, Germany, Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan were beaten 10-3 in the super tie-break by Andre Begemann of Germany and Florin Mergea of Romania, after two intense sets that went into the tie-break.

The Indian pair collected 48 ATP points and €1,550. The champion team pocketed 80 points and €2070.

The results:

€ 46,600 Challenger, Meerbusch, Germany
Doubles (final): Andre Begemann (GER) & Florin Mergea (ROU) bt Sriram Balaji & Vishnu Vardhan 7-6(1), 6-7(4), [10-3].

$15,000 ITF women, Nairobi, Kenya
Singles (final): Mahak Jain bt Sada Nahimana (BDI) 6-1, 6-1.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)