ID :
40105
Mon, 01/12/2009 - 09:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40105
The shortlink copeid
Gritty Somdev goes down to Cilic in summit clash
Chennai, Jan 11 (PTI) Somdev Devvarman's sensational run at the Chennai Open met with an anti-climactic end as the Indian lost the fiercely fought singles final to world number 27 and third seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 4-6 6-7 (3) here Sunday.
Somdev's defeat meant that India's wait for an ATP title
continues as no player from the host nation has emerged winner
on the ATP Tour since Leander Paes' win at Newport in 1998.
Nevertheless, the wild card entrant's memorable run at
the USD 450,000 event, in which he stunned former world number
one Carlos Moya and the king of aces Croatia's Ivo Karlovic,
has already given him a superstar status.
Somdev, with his brilliant effort, pocketed valuable 150
ranking points which will help take his current 202 placing
near to the 150-mark.
Somdev and Cilic were locked in an intense battle but in
the end the Croatian proved a few notches above the Indian as
he did not let the local favourite capitalise on any of the
first seven break points.
If Cilic handed Somdev a few chances to go up, he had a
very strong game to ward off the threat as he compensated the
follies with intelligent and piercing ground strokes that were
too big to handle for Somdev.
Just when it looked the match slipped out of Somdev's
hand when he was trailing 1-4 in the second set after having
lost the first set, he brought the match alive by breaking
Cilic for the first time in the ninth game of the lively
encounter.
The match was stretched to the tie-breaker, in which
Cilic prevailed to win his second ATP singles title.
Cilic held his nerves in the tie-breaker, hitting two big
aces to take a 4-1 lead and the crowd, cheering and screaming
for the local hero, was left disappointed when Cilic notched
up a superb win hitting a forehand winner om Somdev's serve.
Once Cilic sealed the first set, Somdev looked out of his
elements but managed to engage his opponent in the match and
finally clawed his way back riding on a break in the ninth
game.
However, Somdev missed a couple of more breakpoints in
the 11th game and finally a deserving candidate was crowned
champion.
It was a fierce battle right from the word go as the
20-year-old Cilic pushed Somdev to his limits but the Indian
responded well which he did consistently in the tournament.
He fought fire with fire but the six-feet-six-inch Croat
made Somdev work very hard for his points.
The 23-year-old Indian wild card faced early break points
- one each in the second and fourth games -- but Somdev saved
both staving off the threat.
It was then turn of Cilic to hand the opportunity to
Somdev to break him following a series of unforced errors by
the Croatia's world number 27.
Somdev had four breakpoints in the fifth game and two in
the seventh to create a lead but Cilic saved all with booming
serves and big forehands to escape unscathed.
The first set went with serves till the ninth game as
both the players played engrossing tennis, refusing to concede
even an inch.
However, a strategic lapse cost Somdev the first set when
he played a drop shot at 30-30 in the 10th game, hoping the
Cilic will not get to that but the Croat took long strides and
played an easy forehand winner to earn a set point.
Serving under pressure to save the set, Somdev committed
the second double fault to surrender the set and lead to his
opponent. PTI RE
Somdev's defeat meant that India's wait for an ATP title
continues as no player from the host nation has emerged winner
on the ATP Tour since Leander Paes' win at Newport in 1998.
Nevertheless, the wild card entrant's memorable run at
the USD 450,000 event, in which he stunned former world number
one Carlos Moya and the king of aces Croatia's Ivo Karlovic,
has already given him a superstar status.
Somdev, with his brilliant effort, pocketed valuable 150
ranking points which will help take his current 202 placing
near to the 150-mark.
Somdev and Cilic were locked in an intense battle but in
the end the Croatian proved a few notches above the Indian as
he did not let the local favourite capitalise on any of the
first seven break points.
If Cilic handed Somdev a few chances to go up, he had a
very strong game to ward off the threat as he compensated the
follies with intelligent and piercing ground strokes that were
too big to handle for Somdev.
Just when it looked the match slipped out of Somdev's
hand when he was trailing 1-4 in the second set after having
lost the first set, he brought the match alive by breaking
Cilic for the first time in the ninth game of the lively
encounter.
The match was stretched to the tie-breaker, in which
Cilic prevailed to win his second ATP singles title.
Cilic held his nerves in the tie-breaker, hitting two big
aces to take a 4-1 lead and the crowd, cheering and screaming
for the local hero, was left disappointed when Cilic notched
up a superb win hitting a forehand winner om Somdev's serve.
Once Cilic sealed the first set, Somdev looked out of his
elements but managed to engage his opponent in the match and
finally clawed his way back riding on a break in the ninth
game.
However, Somdev missed a couple of more breakpoints in
the 11th game and finally a deserving candidate was crowned
champion.
It was a fierce battle right from the word go as the
20-year-old Cilic pushed Somdev to his limits but the Indian
responded well which he did consistently in the tournament.
He fought fire with fire but the six-feet-six-inch Croat
made Somdev work very hard for his points.
The 23-year-old Indian wild card faced early break points
- one each in the second and fourth games -- but Somdev saved
both staving off the threat.
It was then turn of Cilic to hand the opportunity to
Somdev to break him following a series of unforced errors by
the Croatia's world number 27.
Somdev had four breakpoints in the fifth game and two in
the seventh to create a lead but Cilic saved all with booming
serves and big forehands to escape unscathed.
The first set went with serves till the ninth game as
both the players played engrossing tennis, refusing to concede
even an inch.
However, a strategic lapse cost Somdev the first set when
he played a drop shot at 30-30 in the 10th game, hoping the
Cilic will not get to that but the Croat took long strides and
played an easy forehand winner to earn a set point.
Serving under pressure to save the set, Somdev committed
the second double fault to surrender the set and lead to his
opponent. PTI RE
