Natasha shocks Zeel, Kadhe reaches final

NEW DELHI: Seasoned Natasha Palha rallied to upset top seed Zeel Desai 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 and enter the final of women’s singles at the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championships at the DLTA here on Friday.

The 24-year-old Goa girl bounced back after losing the first set to make it to her maiden hard court nationals final. She will face defending champion Mahak Jain, who stayed solid from the baseline to outlast four- time champion Prerna Bhambri 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3. Natasha, who reached the semis in 2013, said she was looking for one big win. “I was a bit nervous at the start but kept my focus,” said Natasha who won the national grass court championship in 2014.

In men’s singles semis, top seed Arjun Kadhe was under pressure early on against third seed Sidharth Rawat, who pounded winners and returned sharp to take the first set.

However, Kadhe showed temperament to win 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2. Sidharth broke Kadhe in the very first game of the first set, ripping forehand winners, and had another break in the seventh game. Sidharth sealed the set when be picked a low volley to skillfully put it across.

Kadhe, the top Indian in the draw, served strong in the second set and despite losing two set points in the 10th game, came out firing in the tiebreaker to draw level. The Pune boy used the momentum to cruise through the decider. Kadhe, however, will not have it easy in the title clash where he meets Siddharth Vishwakarma.