Indians Solanki, Mahak falter in ITF finals

Indian hopes of a title run were dashed in both the boys and girls' sections as Georgina Axon of Britain won a double crown at the BIPL SPORTS-MSLTA ITF Grade 3 Junior tennis championship that concluded here today.
Boys' top seed Robert Wrzesinski of Lithuania overcame a fighting Alex Solanki, seeded seventh, to lift the singles title.
The Lithuanian won 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-1 after a marathon boys' final lasting two hours and 45 minutes at the MSLTA School of Tennis in Mhalunge Balewadi.
Axon won the girls' singles final by outclassing her second-seeded Indian opponent, Mahak Jain, 6-1, 6-4 in a two- hour summit contest to complete a double crown. She won the doubles title yesterday.

Solanki gave a good account of himself against Wrzesinski after the latter raced away to clinch the opening set.
The Delhi boy found his bearings in the second and fought back from 3-5 to level scores and forced a tie-break that he clinched 8-6 after trailing 2-5, to take the match into the decider.

In the final set, the Lithuanian upped his tempo to force Solanki into committing errors, breaking his rhythm and claiming the set 6-1, and with it, his first career title.
"I'm very happy with this win and will remember my win in Pune for my entire life," said Wrzesinski, who is set to move into the top 60 in the ITF rankings.

Girls' champion Axon, who pocketed 60 ITF points with her triumph, is poised to move into the top 50 in rankings.
She proved too good for Mahak and won the opening set in a canter. The Indian girl made a valiant attempt and fought her way back from 1-3 to level at 3-3.
But the British girl, who finished runners up in doubles last year, broke her rival's serve immediately and then held her own to take a 5-3 lead. Though Mahak made it 5-4, Axon held her serve to win her sixth singles title of the year.
"I love India and Pune, and am glad I did well and will come back next year to defend my title. I'm also happy that I will be able to play all the (Junior) Grand Slams this year," said Axon after her win.