Prajwal Dev collapses after win over Suresh Dakshineswar

After the intense fight, it was the winner who dropped on the ground exhausted, unable to even take two steps to the net to shake hands with his opponent.

The towering Suresh Dhakshineswar crossed the net to extend a helping hand to fifth seed SD Prajwal Dev who had won 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1, in energy sapping conditions in the men’s pre-quarterfinals of the Fenesta National tennis championship at the DLTA Complex here on Wednesday.

However, Prajwal Dev needed medical attention. He will have to recover sufficient energy on the morrow to challenge the top seed Niki Poonacha who eased past KS Dheeraj.

Ishaque Eqbal was thrown a life line by Davis Cupper Vijayant Malik, after the latter had won the first set.
Physically much superior and with the hunger to back his ambition, Eqbal won the next two sets for the loss of three games, to set up a quarterfinal against the former national champion Dalwinder Singh.

A prime trainee of Harvest Academy in Jassowal, Ludhiana, the energetic Dalwinder was provoked to his fiery best by Paras Dahiya following a few disputes in the course of the match.

Kunal Anand scraped through to a tough win over Chandril Sood, and will play the former Asian junior champion Nitin Kumar Sinha.

Second seed Aryan Goveas got a free coaching lesson from Anvit Bendre before he prevailed 7-6(2) in the third set. He will play the former finalist Suraj Prabodh who put out eighth seed Jatin Dahiya in three sets.

In the women’s event, Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi gave a hint of her form and fitness by taming Akanksha Nitture 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. She will challenge one of the favourites, third seed Vaidehi Chaudhari in the quarterfinals.

Qualifier Rashmikaa Shrivalli Bhamidipaty was beaten in three sets by Jagmeet Kaur, who will meet second seed Bhuvana Kalva.

Four-time champion Prerna Bhambri overcame a fluent stroking Arthi Muniyan for the loss of five games, and will face Shreya Tatavarthy.

Salsa Aher was at her stroking best in overcoming seventh seed Yubarani Banerjee in straight sets. She will meet top seed Sowjanya Bavisetti.

In the junior boys section, Rohan Mehra wriggled past Aryaan Bhatia 7-6(8), 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals. He will face Chirag Duhan. Krishan Hooda, Udit Gogoi, Madhwin Kamath, Kabir Hans, Bikramjeet Singh Chawla and Mann Maulik Shah were the others to make the quarterfinals.

In the girls section, Pooja Ingale beat third seed Sarah Dev 6-4, 6-3, to set up a quarterfinal against Prerna Vichare. Bela Tamhankar knocked out fourth seed Vanshika Choudhary 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and will face Sandeepti Singh Rao. Reshma Maruri and Akanksha Nitture set up another quarterfinal with fluent wins. Top seed Kashish Bhatia will tackle Rashmikaa Shrivalli Bhamidipaty.

The results (pre-quarterfinals):

Men: Niki Poonacha bt KS Dheeraj 6-4, 6-2; SD Prajwal Dev bt Suresh Dhakshineswar 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1; Ishaque Eqbal bt Vijayant Malik 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Dalwinder Singh bt Paras Dahiya 6-4, 6-2; Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam 7-6(2), 6-3; Kunal Anand bt Chandril Sood 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4; Suraj Prabodh bt Jatin Dahiya 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Aryan Goveas bt Anvit Bendre 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(2).

Women: Sowjanya Bavisetti bt Tejasvi Kate 6-0, 6-3; Salsa Aher bt Yubarani Banerjee 6-3, 7-5; Vaidehi Chaudhari bt Lakshmi Vutukuru 6-0, 6-3; Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi bt Akanksha Nitture 6-1, 4-6, 6-3; Shreya Tatavarthy bt Sai Dedeepya 6-2, 6-4; Prerna Bhambri bt Arthi Muniyan 6-4, 6-1; Jagmeet Kaur bt Rashmikaa Shrivalli Bhamidipaty 2-6, 6-2, 6-3; Bhuvana Kalva bt Vanshita Pathania 6-2, 7-6(3).

Under-18 boys: Rohan Mehra bt Aryaan Bhatia 7-6(8), 7-5; Chirag Duhan bt Mohit Bondre 6-3, 6-3; Krishan Hooda bt Bikramjeet Singh Chawla 6-1, 2-6, 6-4; Udit Gogoi bt Sushant Dabas 7-6(4), 6-2; Madhwin Kamath bt Ananth Muni 6-3, 6-2; Kabir Hans bt Arthav Neema 6-3, 6-0; Uddayvir Singh bt Yash Chaurasia 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Mann Maulik Shah bt Dhruv Tangri 6-4, 6-1.

Under-18 girls: Kashish Bhatia bt Bhakti Shah 6-1, 6-3; Rashmikaa Shrivalli Bhamidipaty bt Sanjana Sirimalla 7-5, 6-2; Pooja Ingale bt Sarah Dev 6-4, 6-3; Prerna Vichare bt Sunskrithi Damera 6-1, 6-1; Sandeepti Singh Rao bt Jagmeet Kaur 6-4, 6-4; Bela Tamhankar bt Vanshika Choudhary 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Reshma Maruri bt Gargi Pawar 6-2, 6-0; Akanksha Nitture bt Pavithra Narem 6-0, 6-0.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)