Ashutosh, Isha emerge champs

Delhi lad wins his maiden title, Lakhani retains title for third year on the trot

NEW DELHI: Local favourite Ashutosh Singh and defending champion Isha Lakhani won the men’s and women’s singles title respectively of the DSCL Open National Tennis Championships here on Friday.

Second seed Asuthosh tamed highly talented youngster Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-4 7-6 (4) in 1 hour and 36 minutes to win his maiden senior title. Maharashtara’s Isha Lakhani outplayed Tamil Nadu’s Rushmi Chakravarthy 6-4 6-1 in 1 hour and 19 minutes for her third consecutive national title.

Prajnesh, however, had some consolation as he won the junior title beating Chandigarh’s Vijayant Malik 6-3 6-2 in the final of the boys’ under-18 competition.

The second set saw Prajnesh sending some impressive service returns and beautiful forehand winners but ultimately Ashutosh’s experience prevailed.

Ashutosh continued serving big and fired six aces and Prajnesh too played well to keep his serve as they split the 12 games to stretch the matter to tie-breaker.

Prajnesh had his chances in the tie-breaker but failed to convert those. Though he lost the match but earned the reputation of a fighter.

Ashutosh, was delighted to earn the first seniors title for the family.