JOIN USSriram Balaji won double crown at the B.R. Adityan GNC ITF Mens Futures Tennis Championships here tonight beating Jeevan Neduncheziyan to clinch singles crown and later partnered him to down Arun Prakash and Keith Patrick Crowley to win the men's doubles title as well.
Balaji beat Jeevan 6-7(6) 6-4 6-0 in the men's singles while they came bacl together later to beat R Arun Prakash and South African Keith Patrick Crowley 6-2 6-7(6) 10-5.
Sriram and Jeevan, both of whom train at the Schuttler Waske Tennis University in Germany, knew each other's game and started confidently.
Both served powerfully and held their respective serve till scores were 3-3 all. Jeevan then broke Sriram conceding only one point. In the next game, Jeevan's serve cracked and was broken at love.
The set moved to a tie-break. Sriram took an early lead 4-1 only to concede it gradually and the score levelled at 4 all. Sriram faltered and Jeevan hung on bravely to win the tie break 8-6 and the first set.
As the match progressed Jeevan's serve became inconsistent and was broken in the fifth game. Sriram maintained his composure and held serve thereafter to take the second set 6-4 level score at one set all.
In the deciding third set, Jeevan trailed 0-40 on his serve and was broken by Sriram, Thereafter Sriram never looked back and ran way with the set 6-0 and the title.
In an entertaining doubles encounter, Sriram and Jeevan broke Keith in the 6th game and Arun in the 8th game to take the first set 6-2. In the second set, Jeevan was broken in the 5th game but Arun conceded the break in the 8th game and scores were level at 4-4.
The set moved into a tiebreak which Keith and Arun won 8-6. In the super tiebreak, Sriram and Jeevan once again took an early lead once again and this time maintained it to win it 10-5 and the title.
Sriram received Rs.80,000 and 18 ATP points for his singles effort and Jeevan received Rs. 47,000 and 10 ATP points. Both of them together received a cheque of Rs.35000/- for their doubles win.