Tennis nationals: Vishnu, Prerna lead men’s and women’s field
October 9th, 2011 - 9:58 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Vishnu Vardhan and Yuki Bhambri have got top billing in the men’s singles while Prerna Bhambri will spearhead the challenge in the women’s singles at the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship which begins at the DLTA complex here Monday.
Vishnu, who made his Davis Cup debut in the World Group play-off against Japan last month, has got the top seed. The 24-year-old from Secunderabad impressed in his match against Japanese No.1 Kei Nishikori and will look to carry the momentum in this harcourt nationals.
The 19-year-old Yuki, who last month returned to action from a knee injury, has been seeded second and will look to go all the way at his home venue, where he has won four ITF titles.
Vijay Sunder Prashanth of Tamil Nadu has been seeded third.
In the women’s singles, Prerna, who is Yuki’s cousin, will lead the field. The 21 year-old student of Jesus and Mary College here put up a fine performance in the ITF tournaments in June before going on to win her maiden ITF women’s title.
Bangalore’s Sharmada Balu, 17, has been seeded second. Sharmada won her first ITF women’s title in Lucknow in April and will hope to carry the form and confidence here as well.
Veteran Rushmi Chakravarthi is seeded third and with her experience and fitness is among the potential title contenders.
Arjun Khade will lead the challenge in the boys’ Under-18 category while talented Rutuja Bhosale will be a strong contender in the girls’ under-18 category.
The boys and girls Under-14 competitions will also take place and will conclude Oct 22.
The total prize money for the men’s and women’s section has been raised to Rs 844,800.
The winner of the men’s singles will collect Rs.1.50 lakh in prize-money. The winner of the women’s singles will collect Rs.1 lakh.
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- Tennis nationals: Rutuja stuns top seed Prerna - Oct 11, 2011
- National Tennis: Vishnu, Yuki breeze into semis - Oct 13, 2011
- Yuki overcomes Myneni, plays Vishnu in the final - Oct 14, 2011
- Isha Lakhani beats talented Balu in national tennis - Oct 12, 2011
- Prerna, Ratnika in ITF semis - Jun 23, 2011
- Yuki wins $15,000 ITF title in Nigeria - Oct 23, 2011
- Prerna lone Indian in ITF semifinals - Jun 16, 2011
- Indians bow out in first round of QNet women's championship - Mar 19, 2012
- Rutuja beats Ratnika to enter ITF tournament quarters - Jun 15, 2011
- Tough draw for Indians at ITF women's tennis championship - Mar 17, 2012
- Rutuja in ITF women's quarterfinals - Jun 22, 2011
- Sania gains four places in tennis singles rankings - May 14, 2012
- Yuki Bhambri wins maiden ATP Challenger singles title - May 20, 2012
- Aircel ATP Tennis: Nishikori eliminates champ Cilic - Jan 03, 2011
Tags: 1 lakh, balu, boys and girls, cup debut, home venue, itf women, jesus and mary, jesus and mary college, kei nishikori, knee injury, national tennis, prize money, rushmi chakravarthi, secunderabad, tennis championship, title contenders, top billing, vishnu vardhan, world group, yuki bhambri