Unseeded Sharma stuns top seed Verma

Mumbai, May 16 (UNI) Unseeded Vinayak Sharma of Andhra Pradesh began his campaign with a bang when he shocked boys under-16 top seed Parul Verma of Chandigarh 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2) in the Xtra Premium National Series Tennis Championship here today.

In a pulsating second round tie, Sharma endured anxious moments as he trailed 1-4 in the first set tiebreak before rallying to take the opener. He then led 5-3 and 6-5 in the second set and was poised to seal victory while he enjoyed five match points. But Verma saved all to force the tiebreaker in dramatic fashion.

But to Sharma' relief, Verma's challenge fizzled out in the tiebreaker and he took a comfortable lead before sealing his second win over Verma this year.

''I had beaten him in three sets in the Super Series in Kolkata earlier this year, so I had a fair idea of his game,'' revealed Sharma.'' I took it easy at 5-3 in the second set, which allowed him to come back. I was fortunate to enjoy a good lead in the tiebreak.'' Results: Boys U-14 (2nd Rd): Ryoto Tachi (Mah) bt Rishabh Parikh (Guj) 6-3, 7-6 (4); Kunal Anand (Del) bt Hardarshan Singh (Raj) 6-2, 7-6 (5); Hans Parthasarthi (Ori) bt Vishal Passi (Mah) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1; 7-Shahbaz Khan (Mah) bt Parth Shah (Mah) 6-1, 6-0; 3-Mohit Mayur (TN) bt Anirudh Darp 6-1, 6-0; Rakshay Thakkar (Mah) bt Maninder Singh (Har) 6-2, 6-3; Siddharth Rawat (UP) bt Shikhar Kapur (Del) 6-1, 6-3; 6-S. Siddharth (TN) bt Suraj Kanwar (Guj) 6-1, 6-4; Nishant Dikkala bt Rohit Bisht (Del) 6-1, 6-7 (2), 7-5; Tushal Thawani (Mah) bt Rohan Gaonkar (Kar) 7-5, 6-2; Vishwesh Sinha (Mah) bt Kaushik Reddy (AP) 6-2, 6-2; S.V. Abhishek (AP) bt Ronit Bisht (Del) 6-1, 6-3; Chetan Pandit (AP) bt Shiv Nikam (Mah) 6-0, 6-1; Vaidik Munshaw (Guj) bt Gautam Thakre (Mah) 6-1, 6-0; R. Ramkumar (TN) bt Vinod Gowda (Kar) 6-1, 6-2; Paladugu Saiteja (AP) bt Goghari Aashman (Mah) 6-2, 6-1.

Girls U-14 (1st round): Dhriti Manek (Mah) bt Tanaya Gosavi (Mah) 6-2, 6-2; Jenai Billimoria (Mah) bt Vanessa Palha (Goa) 6-3, 6-2; Shruti Archita (Mah) bt Nandini Singh (Raj) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Bhavana Suresh (AP) bt Pallavi Krishnaraj (AP) 6-2, 6-4; Baljinder Kaur (Har) bt Riddhi Hegde (Mah) 6-2, 6-2; Madhuri Patere (Mah) bt Saadgi Rajani (Guj) 6-0, 6-1; Natasha Palha (Goa) bt Vaidehi Bhagvat (Mah) 6-3, 6-2; Sindhu Lele (Mah) bt Supriya Sai (AP) 7-5, 3-0 (conc); R.

Bhavani (TN) bt Prarthana Thombre (Mah) 6-3, 7-6 (5); Namita Bal (Mah) bt Avanee Gosavi (Mah) 6-1, 6-1; C.H. Niddhi (AP) bt Samruddhi Choutani 6-3, 6-2.

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