Tennis

Rethin Pranav, a 17-year-old tennis prodigy from Chennai, overcame bouts of cramps and a formidable opponent to clinch the men's title at the Fenesta National Tennis Championship. In a thrilling three-set battle, Rethin defeated Nitin Kumar Sinha 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, showcasing remarkable composure and resilience.Despite being drained of energy, Rethin displayed unwavering determination, sipping water between points to stay hydrated. His sharp shots and patience in rallies proved too much for Sinha, who had toyed with him midway through the match.Rethin's victory was a testament to his perseverance and the power of belief. He had initially lost the third and final qualifying round but was fortunate to receive a lucky-loser spot in the main draw. This opportunity proved to be a turning point in his tournament journey.In the women's final, Vaidehi Chaudhari, the 2022 champion, faced off against 15-year-old qualifier Maaya Rajeshwaran. Chaudhari's experience and consistency proved too strong for Maaya, who despite her impressive run in the tournament, was unable to find her rhythm in the final.The under-18 boys' title went to Aradhya Kshitij, who overcame stiff competition from Shanker Heisnam in a closely contested match. In the under-18 girls' category, Prisha Shinde recovered from the brink of defeat to beat Diya Ramesh, showcasing her fighting spirit and determination.Rethin's victory marks a significant milestone in Indian tennis, as he becomes the first lucky-loser to win a national championship title. His triumph is a testament to the depth of talent in Indian tennis and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams.

Second seed Riya Bhatia faced a stern test in the quarterfinals of the Fenesta National tennis championship, battling past Yubrani Banerjee 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) at the DLTA Complex on Thursday.Bhatia, a former champion and ranked 338th in the world in 2020, relied on her power play to take the first set 6-3. However, Banerjee, a superb counter puncher, fought back to win the second set 6-2.The decider was a thrilling affair, with both players trading blows. Banerjee raced to a 5-3 lead, but Bhatia showed her resilience to turn the match around. She won the tiebreaker 7-5 to secure a hard-fought victory.In the semifinals, Bhatia will face 15-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran, who has won six consecutive matches, including three in the qualifying event. The other semifinal will be between top seed Vaidehi Chaudhari and Pooja Ingale.In the men's section, lucky loser Rethin Pranav eased past giant killer Yash Chaurasia for the loss of four games. He will face Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam in the semifinals. The other semifinal will be between top seed Vishnu Vardhan and Nitin Kumar Sinha.