Shashank shines for India at ITF
Hyderabad tennis player Teertha Shashank helped India get off to an i mpressive start in the under-14 team event at at the International Tennis Federation Juniors Asia/ Oceania final qualifying tournament, being played at Bangkok in Thailand.
The tournament is being played in the round robin format, with 15 teams vying with each other for qualification to the next level.
India fielded Shashank in their first singles match of their Group ‘B’ tie against Indonesia. And the Hyderabad lad duly obliged with a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Tri Prasetyo Ratliff.
India sealed the tie when Sacchit Sharma won the second singles against Firdianto Athaliah in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
Indonesia managed a consolation win in the doubles match when Firdianto Athaliah and Begus Setyadi defeated the pair of Sacchit and Himanshu Mor 6-4, 2-6, 76 (5).
India next face Korea on Wednesday.
Shashank and Ratliff began the match on an even footing, but a late break of serve enabled Shashank to grab the first set 7-5. The Indonesian boy quickly regrouped and claimed the second set 6-3 and forced the match into the decider.
Shashank was in top form in the third set, winning it 63 and handing India a crucial 1-0 lead.
In the second singles match, Sacchit was unstoppable right from the start.
In the opening set, he fiercely held his serve and with calculated aggression, broke his opponent twice and clinched it 6-3.
The second set saw more of the same, with Sacchit pounding his opponent into submission and helped India to an unbeatable 2-0 lead.