Yuki trounces Balaji to pocket Futures title

New Delhi: Living up to his top billing, Yuki Bhambri clinched his third overall and second consecutive singles title of season as he routed third seed N Sriram Balaji 6-2 6-2 in a lop-sided summit clash, here today.

 

Yuki will now head to China for the Asia Pacific Australian Open wild card tournament high on confidence and with good match practice as he has extended his winning streak to 10 matches.

 

He had entered this tournament after winning a Challenger level title in Traralgon, Australia. He had won a Futures title in August in Chinese Taipei, where he ended runner-up to Yen-Hsun Lu the next month.

 

It was first meeting between Yuki and Balaji since their 2008 match on ITF circuit.

 

Balaji was playing his second final of the season, having won a title in June when he defeated Jeevan Nedunchezhian.

 

Balaji had a played a marathon semifinal yesterday and also the doubles final and he lacked strength to counter the class of Yuki.

 

Yuki never let Balaji play his net game as he controlled the proceedings right from the word go. Yuki did not need to flex his muscles or try something as he took out the win in just 56 minutes.

 

Balaji was struggling with his serve and committed a lot of double faults. Yuki broke him in the 3rd and 5th games for a 4-1 lead but dropped serve in the 6th.

 

However, Balaji could not capitalise on that and dropped his serve in the seventh to trail 2-5.

 

Yuki easily served out the set and then twice broke his opponent in the second set to complete a comfortable win.

 

"I had yesterday played singles as well as doubles, so I was a bit tired. But Yuki was playing at a different level. I thought I had a chance in this match and if I had not thought that, may be I could have played freely," Balaji said after the match.

 

Yuki said he has achieved the goal he had set coming into this tournament.

 

"I was in a good frame of mind coming here. After quarters, I wanted to win this. I will go into the china tournament in good shape, it will be tough but I will give my best," he said.