Sanam wins Dharwad Open

Dharwad, Dec 15 (IANS):

Davis Cupper Sanam Singh continued his winning streak by bagging his second title of the circuit, beating Tamil Nadu’s Ram Kumar Ramanathan 6-2, 7-6(4) in the singles final of the $10,000 ITF Dharwad Open Men’s Futures tennis which concluded at the DDTA courts here Saturday.

Sanam, last week, won in Davangere as well. This triumph fetched him $1,300 prize money and 18 points while Ram Kumar, who made his maiden final, received $900 besides collecting 12 points.

In the final, which lasted one hour and 42 minutes, Ram Kumar was a bit tentative at the start and after dropping serve in the first game of the match seemed to be under pressure as Sanam went on to dominate the set without much fuss.

Sanam, who led 4-2, broke Ram Kumar again in the seventh game and went on to take the set.

It was in the second set that Ram Kumar found his rhythm. He relentlessly hammered his returns and varied his pace and angles. He had a great chance of breaking Sanam in the sixth game when he forced him to three deuces and had a break point. But Sanam salvaged the game.

Ram Kumar was unfazed and kept attacking as a determined Sanam broke him in the ninth game which also saw Ram Kumar slapped down with a code violation, when he lost his cool and banged his racquet after losing the game.

Ram Kumar, however, composed himself and hit back to break Sanam in the 10th game and tied the set at 5-all, which later pushed the set to a tie-breaker.

Ram Kumar was on a roll in the tie-breaker, racing to 4-0 lead before Sanam grimly fought back, leveling at 4-all.

Ram Kumar lapsed into errors at this crucial phase, netting a return and swiping two more out. Sanam, on serve at 6-4, closed the tie-break in style to clinch the set and match.

“It is a great win again and Ram played really well, reaching the final at 18 years is a good show by him. I hope I keep my form at Belgaum as well,” said Sanam.

The ITF Belgaum Open gets underway with main draw ties starting from Dec 17.