Udit, Dhruv enter last 8
Seeded players hit the cruise control button in the under-14 and under-16 sections of the Fenesta Open Junior National Tennis championship on Wednesday.
Udit Gogoi, the second seed, in Boys U-16 cleared the third round against Agriya Yadav. “I won the pre-quarter today with Agriya Yadav. I played good today. The score was 6-3, 6-4. He was very solid in the second set. I played and won some points very well. And tomorrow I’ve my quarterfinal,” said Udit.
Agriya, the top seed in Boys U-14, had a good match in this category as he led the way with a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Daksh Prasad in the third round. On a day when the autumn weather was conducive to good stroke play on the hard courts, Agriya was in fluent form and hit winners on both flanks.
“I played against an unorthodox player. He was hitting some very good shots but in the end I handled it well and won,” said a happy Agriya.
Arunava Majumdar, the second seed battled lapses in form in the first set but clawed his way back to win against Shafaat Ali Asghar 7-5, 6-1.
Third seed Manas Dhamne also warmed up for the battles ahead as he outgunned Aryan Arora 6-4, 6-4.
“I won the third round well. My opponent played well in the first set but in the second set he was not so good,” said Manas.
In Girls’ under-14, Shruti Ahlawat, the second seed, entered the quarterfinals. She worked her way past Hannan Nagpal for a 6-4, 6-4 win.
“I am in the quarter-finals and this is a good feeling after losing in the under16 second round last week. So this was my great experience in Fenesta Open,” said Shruti.
Fifth seed Nandini Dixit beat Niyati Kukreti 6-1, 7-5. In a match of fluctuating
fortunes, Nandini ensured revenge would be on her mind. She had lost to the same opponent earlier. “I lost to her the previous time and this time it was much better. I will keep going and try and do my best in the next two rounds,” said Nandini.