By IANS,
New Delhi : Eighth-seeded Karunuday Singh Friday made a spirited comeback to set up a title clash with compatriot Vijayant Malik in the men’s singles of the $10,000 ITF at the DLTA complex.
Karunuday fought back from a set down to upstage fourth-seeded N.Prashanth 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the nearly two-and-a-half hour clash.
Later in the day, Karunuday partnering Russian Vitali Reshetnikov went on to clinch the doubles title. The top seeds defeated fourth-seeded pair of Prashanth and A. Rajagopalan 5-7, 6-2, 10-4.
In contrast, seventh-seeed Malik had it relatively easy when his sixth-seeded Swede opponent and last week’s winner Patrik Rosenholm conceded the match, citing illness, while trailing 5-7, 0-3.
It was a late start to the day here because of early morning showers but Karunuday and Prashanth, playing the first singles of the day, ensured that a handful of spectators get to watch a thrilling game.
The two players served solid and were locked in power-packed rallies. The set looked poised to enter a tie-break but a few errors from Karunuday in the 10 game proved to be his undoing. He saved four set points but a forehand shanked on the fifth gave away the game and the set.
He began the second set by breaking Prashanth straightaway only to drop his serve in the fourth when he double faulted on the break point. A frustrated Karunuday suddenly struggled to find his rhythm.
But just when the things seemed to be moving Prashanth’s way, Karunuday’s stepped up the ante, going fearlessly for the lines and serving with purpose. He broke Prashanth in 11th game with a stinging backhand down the line, which the Tamil Nadu player feebly dumped in the net. He then served out the set to even out things.
In the decider, Karunuday ran through the set as Prashanth went through the motions. He swiftly notched up a 5-1 lead and would have wrapped up the match in the seventh game but Prashanth hung on to save three match points. Karunuday closed the match in the next game, losing only a point on his serve.