New Delhi: Telangana’s Sathwika Sama won the women’s doubles final alongside Mahak Jain at the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship here on Friday.
Sathwika and Mahak beat Humera Shaik (Telangana) and Sara Dev in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to take the trophy.
However, Humera made it to the Girls U-18 final where she will meet statemate Srivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty.
Rashmikaa got the better of second seed Sharannya V. Gaware of Maharashtra 6-4, 6-3 while Humera defeated her Sara Yadav of Madhya Pradesh in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
Goa girl Natasha Palha dumped top seed Zeel Desai out of the tournament, winning their semifinal with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 scoreline to set up a summit clash with second seed Mahak Jain.
This is the second time Zeel has tripped in the Nationals semis, though full credit should go to Natasha. At 24, the Goa girl has experience in her bag and used it to the hilt on the hard courts. “I have played against Zeel twice before and lost so I didn’t really expect this result. I am relieved and happy I got through the final and looking forward to it,” said the former national grasscourt champion.
In the second semifinal, Mahak carved out a hard-fought 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-3 win over multiple champion Prerna Bhambri of Delhi.
The men’s singles final will be contested between top seed Arjun Kadhe and Siddharth Vishwakarma, seeded sixth.
Kadhe had been touted as the pre-tournament favourite but had to dig deep to beat third seed Siddharth Rawat 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the last 4 encounter.
Selected Results
Men’s singles semifinals: Arjun Kadhe(seed 1)(MH) bt Siddharth Rawat(seed 3(UP) 2-6, 7-6, 6-2; Siddharth Vishwakarma (seed 6) (UP) bt Nitin K Sinha (seed 5) (WB ) 6-3, 6-2.
Women’s singles semifinals: Mahak Jain(seed 2)(MH) bt Prerna Bhambri (seed 4)(DL) 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-3; Natasha Pahla (Goa) bt Zeel Desai (seed 1)(GJ) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Women’s doubles final: Mahak Jain/ Sathwika Sama bt Humera Shaik/ Sara Dev 6-3, 6-3.
Girls U-18 semifinals: Rashmikaa Bamadipaty (TS) bt Sharannya V. Gaware (seed 2) (MH) 6-4, 6-3; Humera Shaik (TS) bt Sara Yadav (MP) 6-4, 6-3.
Boys U-18 semifinals: Siddhanth Banthia (seed 1) bt (MH) Madhwin Kamath (GJ) 6-3, 6-2; Calvin Golmei (seed 3)(CH) bt Drona Walia (UK) 6-3, 7-6(4).
Girls U-18 doubles final: Salsa Aher/ Kaavya Sawhney bt Bhakti Shah/ Sunskriti Damera 6-1, 2-6, 10-4.
Boys U-18 doubles final: Siddanth Banthia/ Megh Patel bt Madhwin Kamath/ Dev Javia 6-3, 6-2.
