Provogue Jaipur Junior Open - Day 3: Nandika, Ramit progress

Utkarsh Baheti and Yash Fadte

The fifth seed Jaipur boy Utkrash Baheti created the biggest upset in the Provogue Jaipur Junior Open on Friday in the boys' under-15 category when he overpowered third seed Yash Fadte (Goa) in a tough five-setter to clinched a berth in semi-finals, Utkarsh Baheti bt Yash Fadte 3-2 (7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8) Utkrash he will face top seed Tushar Shahani.

Jairaj Singh, another upcoming Jaipur boy also in the under-15 category was not as fortunate in quarter-finals as he took the court to lock horns with number one seed Tushar Shahani (Maharashtra). Not overawed by his top seed rival, Jairaj fought a great fight before going down 11-9, 11-7, 11-2. On Thursday, Jairaj caused a minor upset by defeating fifth seed Tejas Chawal in four games in pre-quarterfinals. Ishaan Singh also from Jaipur lost to Kanhav Nanavati (Tamil Nadu) in straight games. Nanavati won 12-10,11-5,11-3.

Best Matches of Day 3

GU15 - Darshana Vasudevan vs Vedika Singhvi 3-1 (11-2, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8)

GU15 - Hritika Malhotra vs Rathika Suthanthira Seelan 1-3 (4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12)

GU17 - Nandika Kumar vs Aaradhana Kasturiraj 3-2 (11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8)

BU11 - Rohan Arya Gondi vs Sharan Punjabi 3-2 (11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6)

BU11 - Jaivir Singh Dhillon vs Arnav Tevatia 3-2 (9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4)

BU15 - Utkarsh Baheti vs Yash Fadte 3-2 (7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8)

BU17 - Ramit Bhargava vs Chaitanya Shah 2-3 (7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 4-11)

BU17 - Dev Vazirani vs Aryaman Adik 2-3 (6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12)

Uber Player of the Day – Rohan Arya Gondi

Rohan upsets ¾ seed Sharan Punjabi to enter the semifinals AP’s Rohan Arya Gondi and Sharan Punjabi (MH) had a see-saw battle. In the first 4 games both players played some good shots and equally made errors which made the match neck to neck (Unforced errors 17 by Rohan and 13 by Sharan). In the 5th game Sharan took a lead of 5-2 and was in full control of the game until Rohan came back very strongly to win 6 points in a row to make 8-5. It was matter of time for Rohan to wrap up the game and match

3-2 (11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6)

Ramit being a 5/8 seed from Rajasthan started putting pressure on ¾ seed Chaitanya shah of Maharashtra right from being first game by keeping the pace of the game high. Ramit was in full control of the match and was 2-1 up until he run out of gas. In the 5 game Chaitanya Shah used his experience and better fitness to beat Ramit 11-4.

In the girls section, it was a dismal day for the Jaipur girls as none of them could make it to the next round. The only silver lining was GU13 Nandani Kuchhal and GU15 Hritka Malhotra who gave fright before bowing out. However, all the seeded players in the girls' made it do the next round without any difficulty.