Vannemreddy clinches spot in French Open junior event
PARIS: India’s Abhimanyu Vannemreddy slumped midway but managed to beat Japan’s Hikaru Shiraishi 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to win the Rendezvous Roland Garros title and secure a wildcard for the French Open junior boys event on Saturday.
The 17-year-old Vannemreddy, based in Bradenton, Florida, was on a high after the win. He had come in as a last-minute replacement for Siddanth Banthiya, who won the Indian leg of Rendezvous Roland Garros beating Vannemreddy but could not make it to Paris due to injury.
Vannemreddy was quick off the blocks and broke Hikaru Shiraishi in the very first game. He led 4-0 before Shiraishi won a game, but Vannemreddy closed out the first set 6-1. Shiraishi struggled to cope with the heat, and to make matters worse suffered a nose bleed. But the Japanese showed great tenacity to fight back in the second set.
Despite being 2-4 down after Vannemreddy broke his serve in the sixth game, Shiraishi fought back to force the tie into the decider. Shiraishi changed tactics, using drop shots to put pressure back on Vannemreddy, breaking him in the seventh and ninth games.
However, in the third set, Vannemreddy again exerted pressure to run up a 4-0 advantage, breaking his opponent twice in the second and fourth games, before sealing the match.
“I hope I can keep going and win more matches. This is just a beginning for me and it’s a huge opportunity. I never came to Europe and this is first time. I am happy,” Abhimanyu said after the win.
Coach Vivek Satyajit, deputed by the All India Tennis Association, was happy.
“He played calmly, kept his cool. He kept to the gameplan and didn’t lose concentration. His opponent played well but I am happy Abhimanyu stuck to his plan. He deserved to win,” Satyajit said.