Vashisht Cheruku saved a match point before prevailing over defending champion BR Nikshep in a tense final to emerge as the new under-16 boys champion while Zeel Desai took the girls' trophy in the Fenesta National Junior Tennis Championship, here today.
Second seed Cheruku came back from a set down to beat Nikshep 2-6 6-2 7-5 in an engrossing two hours and 25 minutes battle for the title.
In the girl's under-16 category, second seed Gujarat girl Zeel defeated Ramya Natrajan 7-5, 6-0 in one hour and 25 minutes.
The under-14 boys' title was claimed by Chandigarh boy Digvijay P Singh, who upset top seed Siddhant Banthia 6-3 6-0, while the girls' title in the under-14 category was won by Sathwika Sama who defeated Sabhyata Nihalani 6-2 6-2.
"I just did not want to give away the match to him and fight till the end. The perseverance paid off," said Cheruku.
Nikshep later revealed that he had injured his right elbow during the semi-finals.
"I was playing with pain killers and finding it difficult while serving, but credit to him the way he fought back," he said.
Results:
Boys Under 16 Singles
Vashisht Vinod Cheruku (2) (KA) bt BR Nikshep (1) (AP) 2-6 6-2 7-5.
Girls Under 16 Singles
Zeel Desai (2) (GJ) bt Ramya Natrajan (TN) 7-5 6-0
Boys Under 14 Singles
Digvijay Pratap Singh (CH) bt Siddhant Banthia (1) (MH) 6-3 6-0
Girls Under 14 Singles
Sathwika Sama (AP) bt Sabhyata Nihalani (DL) 6-2 6-2.
