Smooth sailing for top seeds on second day

New Delhi: Top seeds Arjun Kadhe and Zeel Desai had smooth starts at the Fenesta Open National tennis championship here on Monday. Pune boy Khade keeps his spot in the next round and sailed through with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Kunal Anand while Gujarat’s Zeel Desai brushed aside Delhi’s Vanshika Chaudhary 6-2, 6-1 in the first round at the RK Khanna Stadium.

“It was my first round with Vanshika but she is a good player. I maintained my level till the end. Though the score-line looks easy I am satisfied with the way I played today. The only thing I would like to say is never give up’, “ said Zeel.

Another competitor from Delhi, Prerna Bhambri was ruthless as she toyed with Neeru Rapria from Haryana and won 6-0, 6-0.
Fourth seed Prerna dictated the terms from the word go and was not in the mood to give her opponent any liberty on the hard courts. On a warm day, Prerna played fluent on either flank for her victory.

“I think I played really well today, everything fell in place. My opponent also was really good. I am glad my shots came well. So, I look forward to play tomorrow,” said Prerna.

Tamil Nadu’ Sai Samhitha used her strokes well to outlast Nidhi Chilumula. In the men’s singles, Jayesh Pungliya had a routine 6-4, 6-4 win against Paramveer Bajwa but there was mild surprise when P.C. Vignesh lost to Siddharth Vishwakarma from UP 1-6, 6-7 (3/7). 

Though Siddharth was sixth seed, Vignesh relatively has more experience. In under-18 boys, the favourites cruised with top seed Siddhant Bhantia ousting Aarya Pandit 6-1, 6-2.

The Results
Men’s singles first round: Arjun Khade (MH, seed 1) bt Kunal Anand (DL) 6-3, 6-1; Jayesh S. Pungliya (MH) bt Paramveer S. Bajwa (PB) 6-4, 6-4; Siddharth Vishwakarma (UP) (seed 6) bt P.C. Vignesh (TS) 6-1, 7-6 (3). Women’s singles first round: Zeel Desai (GJ, 1) bt Vanshika Chaudhury (DL) 6-2, 6-1; C Sai Samhitha (TN) (seed 3) bt Nidhi Chilumula (TS) 6-2, 6-2; Prerna Bhambari (DL, seed 4) bt Neeru Rapria (HR) 6-0, 6-0.