Bhambri in semis, to vie for gold in doubles

Pune, Oct 16 (UNI) For the first time in the event, second seed Yuki Bhambri was been tested, but the Indian proved good enough to overcome his English rival Christopher Harrison and enter the semi-final of the Tennis competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games here today.

While Bhambri defeated Harrison 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the boy's singles, in the same event, Sudanwa Sitaram also handed a straight set mauling to fourth seed Hendrik Coertzen of South Africa 6-2, 6-1.

Bhambri, along with Vijayant Malik, will also take India's challenge in the boy's doubles final as the duo ousted South African pair of Hendrik Coertzen and David Markwith Fisher 6-0, 6-3 today.

In the singles' quarter-finals for girls, Poojashree Venkatesha came good to outclass Lisa Whybourn of England 6-3, 6-0, while Kyra Shroff also made it to the semi-final with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(2) win over Monica Irena of South Africa.

Poojashree then combined with Tanvi Shah to inflict a humiliating defeat on the English pair of Lisa Whybourn and Jade Windley to advance into the final of the doubles event where they will meet Rashmi Teltumbde and Tanvi Shah who beat Monika Wejnert and Jade Hopper of Australia 6-3, 6-4.

Bhambri, whose serve had not been broken in the whole competition, was broken twice in the second set today, but that was it for Harrison as he could not stand against an all fired-up Indian.

The Osaka Mayor's Cup champion, Bhambri did not have to sweat it out much in the first set and broke the English boy once which was enough to take the first set.

Many must have thought the same script to follow in the second set as well, but Harrison hit back to break Bhambri in the first and the third game. The 13th seed Harrison won the set 7-5.

However, the loss in the second game fired up Bhambri who then blazed away with the match and broke his rival thrice to seal the battle after an hour and 35 minutes of play.

Meanwhile, Poojashree had a fairly easy quarter-final match where she played on the fitness of her English rival who was trying hard but ran out of steam.

The second seeded Poojashree crushed Lisa in just under an hour and booked a semi-final berth.

Poojashree also combined well with Kyra to outpoint Lisa Whybourn and Jade Windley of England in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

UNI RAR AB KN1959