Gurgaon teen prodigy wins Chennai ITF title

Gurgaon’s budding tennis prodigy Jennifer Luikham won her second career ITF Under- 18 singles title at the ITF Juniors Grade 4 tournament in Chennai on Saturday.

The 14- year- old was given a tough fight by Nandini Sharma, dropping her only set in the whole tournament before winning 6- 3, 1- 6, 6- 2 in the girls’ final. It capped a dominant performance by the talented youngster, who sailed smoothly to finals without losing a set.

She beat Arushi Kakkar 6- 3, 63 in the second round, Tanushri Vale ( 6- 4, 6- 4) in the pre- quarterfinals, Chinese Ye Xin Ma ( 6- 3, 63) in the quarter- finals and former Under- 16 national champion Vanshika Sahanai ( 6- 1, 6- 1) in the semi finals. Jennifer had won her first ITF title in April.

Mumbai’s Aryan Goveas and Aditya Gokhale of Pune pose with their trophies after a 7- 5, 1- 6, 10- 8 victory over Pune’s Sahil Deshmukh and Delhi’s Basil Khuma in the boys’ doubes final of the ITF Under- 18 grade 4 tournament in Chennai.

Jennifer Luikham of Gurgaon poses with the trophy after winning the Under- 18 girls’ ITF final in Chennai on Saturday.