Date with Patel

Mann Maulik Shah pulled off a shock win over second seed Dev V. Javia 6-4, 6-2 in the Under16 boys semi-finals of the Fenesta Open junior national tennis championship at the RK Khanna Stadium in the capital on Friday.

Mann takes on Kevin Mrugesh Patel in the final. Patel did not have much difficulty in beating sixth seed Kushan Shah 6-4. 6-2 in the other semi-final.

“We have played each other in the past, almost 23 times but I was nervous in the beginning. Today, I gave it my best shot,” said Shah.

In the girl’s U-16, top seed Tanisha Kashyap lived up to her billing as she got past Kaavya Sawhney 6-3, 6-2 to enter the final.

Kashyap faces second seed Prinkle Singh, who shut the door on Prerna Vichare 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

“Prerna played well and she served slow balls in the second set. I came back in the third set strongly and am really happy for that. I was runner-up last year and want to give it my best in the final,” said Prinkle.

There was a major upset in the boy’s U-14 semi-final as fourth seed Ajay Malik ousted top seed Nishant Dabas 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1).

In the second semi-final, Krishan Hooda beat Dhruv Tangri 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 in a humdinger.

The girl’s U-14 final will be played between Rutuja Chaphalkar and Sandeepti Singh Rao.