Report: Dazzling Deuces dazzle to beat Accurate Aces; Vibrant Volleyers score first win
Jeevan Neduncheziyan and Ankita Raina inspired their team Dazzling Deuces to a fighting 25-21 win over in-form Accurate Aces, while Vibrant Volleyers registered their first win beating Sharp Smashers 29-19 on the third day of the 3rd Amanora Premier Tennis League at the Deccan Gymkhana courts here on Sunday.
India No 1 Ankita Raina began tentatively against Rishika Sunkara, but picked up her game towards the end of the match to score 6-4 win that gave her team Dazzling Deuces, the edge they were looking for.
Much depended on Mohit Mayur as he took on Tejas Chaukulkar, but the bespectacled player held himself well to break Tejas twice before winning the set 6-1.
Having won two straight matches on the first two days of the PTL Championship, Accurate Aces were in for a rude awakening on Sunday evening. Down 5-12, Sriram Balaji took the court against Jeevan Neduncheziyan.
Jeevan, who had lost his matches over the last two days, however, redeemed himself with an inspiring serve and volley game to beat Balaji 6-4.
Jeevan covered his court well, while attacked Balaji from the start, before finding a break he was looking for to make the winning run.
Leading 18-9, Dazzling Deuces’ mixed doubles pair of Christopher Marquis and Shweta Rana began impressively but lost the steam midway through as Davis Cupper Vishnu Vardhan took control of the net and smashed winners to upset Deuces’ pair.
The Aces pair of Vardhan and Eetee Mehta won 6-3, before Sriram Balaji and Arun Prakash salvaged some pride by winning the men’s doubles match 6-4.
Ramanathan stars for Vibrant Volleyers
Ramkumar Ramanathan won both his matches, the second men’s singles and the final tie, the men’s doubles with VM Ranjeet as Vibrant Volleyers defeated Sharp Smashers 29-19 to record their first win.
Natasha Palha won her first match of the league when she beat Sowjanya Bavisetti 6-2 and Chandril Sood gave a perfect back-up by beating PC Vignesh 6-2. A 12-4 lead was good enough start for Volleyers to bank on as Ramanathan defeated a tough opponent in Sanam Singh 6-5 (7-5).
The only loss for Volleyers came when their mixed doubles pair of Anvit Bendre and Arantxa Andrady lost to Akash Wagh and Sharmada Balu 5-6.
The final match, the men’s doubles between Ramkumar Ramanathan and VM Ranjeet and Vijayant Malik and Sanam Singh ended in Volleyers’ favour as they won 6-4 for 29-19 aggregate win.
Results
Dazzling Deuces beat Accurate Aces 25-21
Ankita Raina bt Rishika Sunkara 6-4
Mohit Mayur bt Tejas Chaukulkar 6-1
Jeevan Neduncheziyan bt Sriram Balaji 6-4
Christopher Marquis and Shweta Rana lost to Vishnu Vardhan and Eetee Mehta 3-6
Jeevan Neduncheziyan and Kaza Sharma lost to Sriram Balaji and Arun Prakash 4-6
Vibrant Volleyers beat Sharp Smashers 29-19
Natasha Palha bt Sowjanya Bavisetti 6-2
Chandril Sood bt PC Vignesh 6-2
Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Sanam Singh 6-5 (7-5)
Anvit Bendre and Arantxa Andrady lost to Akash Wagh and Sharmada Balu 5-6.