Prakash Amritraj started his quest for a third successive title in style, beating qualifier Shivang Mishra 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the $10,000 ITF Futures men’s tennis here on Tuesday.
With a booming serve and a backhand which sent down some stunning cross-court winners, the fifth-seeded US-based Indian was in complete control throughout.
It was smooth sailing for Prakash from the very beginning as he broke Shivang once before pocketing the opener in little over half an hour’s time. Shivang was guilty of committing too many double-faults at crucial junctures against an opponent who was quick to pounce on the errors.

Similar script
The second set followed a similar script as Shivang continued to struggle with his erratic serves. With most of his forehand returns also landing outside, Shivang stood no chance against the more disciplined Prakash. Luck also did not go the qualifier’s way as a controversial line call made it a double-fault in the fifth game to give Prakash a break of serve. Shivang did protest but to no avail.
There was no stopping the fifth seed after that and he wrapped up the proceedings in no time with a flurry of aces and some excellent returns from the baseline.
“It is more humid than what I had expected. But today it was still okay with the breeze. Preferably you wouldn’t play in such conditions but I don’t really mind because I like to test myself in tough conditions,” he said.
Prakash will next take on another qualifier Gusharan Singh, who beat Nitin Kirtane 6-4, 6-2 in another first-round match.
Meanwhile, Sanam Singh beat Prakash’s cousin Stephen 6-3, 6-4 in the first round. The scoreline, however, hardly reflects the battle between the evenly-matched players.