New Delhi: Dakshineshwar Suresh showed great body language and staying power as he shocked top seed Siddanth Banthia 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1) to win the under-16 boys’ title in the Fenesta Open tennis championship which concluded on Saturday.
As the curtains came down on the fortnight long tennis carnival in the Capital, the two contestants in the under-16 final played their hearts out for over two hours and 35 minutes in good conditions.
In the end, there had to be a winner and Suresh, who has a slight built, showed great heart and a cool mind to produce the game to beat a bigger player in terms of seeding.
Suresh has been trying his luck in the under-16 category for a few years, without luck. Today was his day as she showed that on the big stage he could find his game and remained calm as junior fans egged him on. In the first set, he closed out the game with a break at the fag end.
And in the final set tie break, Suresh was on song. He hardly made a mistake and pulled off a good win. “I feel good after winning the biggest tournament in India. This is the first time I won the Under 16. I have been playing for the last two years where I lost in the quarters. I was to play for the under 18 but I was not well and I lost in the semi-finals. Now I am happy that I won this tournament,” said an excited Suresh.
In the girls’ under-16 final, Salsa Aher played compact tennis to beat Prinkle Singh 6-2, 6-0 in a jiffy. All week long, Salsa has been playing with great feel on either flank. She lived up to the billing again as she toyed with her opponent in the finale.
“I am feeling very happy to have won the FenestaUnder 16 finals. Last year I was the runners up for girls under 14. This year I said to myself that I have to win the under 16. It’s like a dream. I had that belief that I would win this tournament,” she said.
In the under-14 boys’ final, Ajay Malik beat VM Sandeep 6-4,6-4. “I feel very happy winning the boys under 14 tournament and it’s been a great experience,” said the youngster.
In the girls’ under-14 final, Sarah Dev, the fourth seed beatSharannyaGaware (Seed 3) 6-1,4-6, 6-3.Sarah has been a regular at the Fenesta Open and this year she made it big finally.
“It’s a good experience. I have been losing in the quarter finals in the earlier matches of the Fenesta Tournament but this year I am happy to win the Under 14 singles. It was a very good match. My opponent Sharannya was played well,” said Sarah.
Boys U 16 Single's Winner Result
DakshineshwarSuresh(Seed 5)beat SiddanthBanthia (Seed 1) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (1)
Winner- Dakshineshwar Suresh
Dakshineshwar said “I feel good after winning the biggest tournament in India. This is the first time I won the Under 16. I have been playing for the last two years where I lost in the quarters. I was to play for the under 18 but I was not well and I lost in the semifinals. Now I am happy that I won this tournament”
Girls Under 16:
Salsa AherbtPrinkle Singh 6-2,6-0
Winner- Salsa Aher
Salsa said “I am feeling very happy to have won the Fenesta Under 16 finals. Last year I was the runners up for girls under 14. This year I said to myself that I have to win the under 16 .its like a dream. I had that belief that I would win this tournament.
Boys under 14
Ajay Malik bt V.M. Sandeep 6-4,6-4
Winner Ajay Malik
Ajay said “ I feel very happy winning the boys under 14 tournament and it’s been a great experience”
Girls Under 14
Sarah Dev (Seed 4) Beat Sharannya Gaware (Seed 3) 6-1,4-6, 6-3
Winner Sarah Dev
Sarah Dev said “It’s a good experience. I have been losing in the quarter finals in the earlier matches of the Fenesta Tournament but this year I am happy to win the Under 14 singles. A very good match. My opponent Sharannya was very good and played well.”