Aditya Madkekar scored an impressive 6-1 6-2 victory over Vijayant Malik to enter the semifinals
Rohan Gide loses to Tamil Nadu’s Balaji 6-7 (5) 2-6
NEW DELHI: Aditya Madkekar scored an impressive 6-1 6-2 victory over Vijayant Malik to enter the semifinals, but turned philosophical on being asked about his chances of winning the DSCL national men’s tennis championship. “I was the top seed last time but could not win. I think seedings and form have no bearing on the final result and it is about playing all five matches well,” said Madkekar, who has not been bothered much by his opponents so far, dropping only 10 games in three rounds. Madkekar was one of the favourites in the previous year (2006) too, seeded second.
“I have made the quarterfinals on three occasions but been unable to do any better. I am playing well this time, but like I said, every day is a new one and you can’t be confident of winning the title however good your form might be,” said wild-card entrant Madkekar, who trains at the Team Excellence Centre in Bangalore. Asked if the depleted field gave him an opportunity to win his maiden national title, the 23-year-old presented a different view.
“Had I been able to win in the past, things would have been different. Probably I would have been a rung higher and not bothered much about this tournament. Also, others might just have picked up during this period,” said Madkekar, his light brown eyes reflecting the disappointment of not having won the title so far.
“It is good to hear people congratulate me for playing well these past few matches. The fact is, I have been playing for only about a month, this being only my third tournament,” said Madkekar, who had back-to-back injuries (back and shoulder) that deprived him of 11 months on the circuit after the last nationals. Madkekar will now take on NS Balaji in the next round. Balaji ousted second-seeded Rohan Gide after a fiercely fought opening set that went to tie-break.
In the other semifinal, top seed VM Ranjeet will take on seventh-seeded Kamala Kannan, who had the better of third seed PC Vignesh. Ranjeet produced another clinical performance to get rid of an error-prone Arjun Goutham, managing two breaks in the first set while conceding one, and then breaking in the fifth of the second set to clinch the match. “I have not been playing too many matches this year and was not match sharp,” admitted eight-seeded Goutham.
Results (quarterfinals): VM Ranjeet (TN) bt Arjun Goutham (Kar) 6-3 6-4; Kamala Kannan (TN) bt PC Vignesh (AP) 6-3 6-3; Aditya Madkekar (Kar) bt Vijayant Malik (Har) 6-1 6-2; NS Balaji (TN) bt Rohan Gide (Mah) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}