Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) India’s Karunuday Singh powered his way to his maiden ITF men’s singles title with an emphatic 6-4, 6-2 victory over compatriot Vijayant Malik in the $10,000 tournament at the DLTA complex here Saturday.

It was a double delight for eighth-seeded Karunuday, who also won his maiden doubles title with Russian Vitali Reshetnikov Friday.

The 20-year-old produced a solid game, serving big and smacking powerful groundstrokes and never allowed seventh-seeded Malik to settle down. Malik, who had not lost a set in the tournament so far, was a tad slow in his reflexes and his five double faults, four of which came in the first set, did not help his cause either.

Karunuday, who staged a superb turnaround to enter the final Friday, picked up from where he left, and broke Malik early in the third game. He, however, failed to consolidate on the break when he played a sloppy sixth game, hitting a backhand long on breakpoint.

He quickly made amends in the next game. A fourth double fault from Malik brought up the break point and Karunuday with a whipping forehand return converted it. He then held his service and soon went up a set.

Karunuday carried in the same vein in the second set and broke Malik in the first and seventh games to serve out the set and the match after an hour and 17 minutes battle.

A sports management student at University Of Illinois, Karunuday said he will take a break before deciding to play in the next tournament.

“It is a very happy feeling winning your first ITF tournament. I played aggressively and asserted myself. I picked up my game from the end of the second set in the semifinals and carried it today,” said Karunuday, who was watched by his parents from the sidelines.

“I have been carrying a few injuries and I will take a month’s break to get them treated. After that I will decide which tournament to play.”