[1]Jeevan Neduncheziyan and Prerna Bhambri emerge champions in the Fenesta Open national tennis championship at the RK Khanna Stadium here on Saturday.
Men's top seed Jeevan lived up to his billing defeating Maharashtra's Arjun Kadhe 7-6 (4), 6-1 while Bhambri won the single's crown for a second time after top seed Rishika Sunkara retired hurt. Second seed Bhambri was leading 2-6, 7-6 (7), 4-1.
“It's a great feeling for me to win the national title. This tournament has produced many greats and I'll carry this confidence in the tournaments that I plan next,” said Jeevan.
In the women's final Bhambri looked off colour initially but soon bounced back. “I was confident that I would win the title. I was in great form. She played well despite having fever. I started playing aggressive in the later part of the match,” said Bhambri.
In the U-18, Rishabh Aggarwal beat Karan Aggarwal beat Karan Salwan 6-1, 6-2 and Pranjala Yadlapalli bagged the girls' crown beating Taran-num Handa 6-7 (8), 6-0, 7-5. Equal prize money Jeevan took a purse of Rs1.50 lakh while Kadhe earned an amount of Rs1lakh.
And for the first time at the tennis nationals the prize money amount was equal for the women's finalists. The decision came after chief guest Sania Mirza raised her eyebrow at the different prize money amounts.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/jeevan-editedjpgcropdisplayjpg-371