Udomchoke rallies to take title

By Kalyan Ashok

BANGALORE, JUNE 17. Udomchoke did not choke this time. After last week's defeat at the hands of Sandeep Kirtane in the first leg final in Mumbai, the Thai with the never-say-die spirit clawed his way back to beat a combative Harsh Mankad 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and claimed the singles title of the McDowell-ITF Satellite second leg tennis championship at the KSLTA Stadium courts here today.

The seesaw final which lasted a shade over two hours saw Harsh Mankad in the driver's seat for a good part with an allround game. But Harsh failed to convert the big points when it mattered most. Inexplicably, he lost focus when he was in command and paid dearly for it. Harsh's lack of finish came as a godsent opportunity for Danai Udomchoke, who played like a `wall' from the back court, frustrating his rival. Udomchoke simply out- rallied Harsh Mankad in the tie marked by some relentless slugging from the baseline.

``I tried my best, but lost the grip when I shouldn't have. I gave away some crucial points, that did me in. Overall I played well, but lost a match which I should have won,'' said a disappointed Harsh Mankad.

The champion, Udomchoke, too, felt that he played to his potential. ``The first set was bad, I really did not concentrate, but I was getting better and I was confident. Though my leg still hurts a bit, I had to carry on,'' said the 19-year- old Thai University student from Bangkok who is ranked No. 2 at home.

Udomchoke made a shaky start, as he dropped the first game of the first set, which went to three deuces before Harsh's lucky net chord point put him at advantage and Harsh took the game with a neat lob.

Though the Thai broke Harsh in the second game, the fourth-seeded Indian called the shots taking the next four games on the trot, belting winners past a sluggish Udomchoke. Harsh hit his groundstrokes with pinpoint accuracy and often found the lines, to the delight of the crowd.

Udomchoke, trailing 2-5, briefly halted Harsh's charge with a break in the eighth game, but there was no stopping Harsh, who shut out the set at 6-4.

Harsh should have stepped up the pace after taking the first set but he let things drift with a slack game. He hit too many over the baseline and netted some easy volleys, while his rival was content with consolidating his position with steady hitting from the back court.

Udomchoke did not take any big risks, barring a few flashy volleys. It was a methodical grind with which he wore Harsh down. The rallies were long and tiring, but it helped the Thai get his bearings right and turn the heat on the Indian.

Udomchoke played on the Indian's nerves and forced him to deuce in the 10th game. Harsh saved a set point with an ace, but netted twice to drop the set (4-6).

Udomchoke was clearly delighted with the turn of the tide and though Harsh cracked him in the first game of the decider and took a 4-2 lead, the gritty Thai held his ground with a doughty display, and luck too favoured him in a big way when Harsh Mankad, who had break point again in the seventh game, slammed a backhand volley into the net.

Perhaps that single stroke made all the difference to the tie as Udomchoke, who survived a spate of double faults, went on to save the game and broke Harsh Mankad in the eighth.

Udomchoke, who also received medical attention for the leg cramp, wasn't really perturbed with the conditions. He held his serve in the ninth game at love, firing an ace in the process and then struck again decisively in the tenth, as a shaky Harsh Mankad sprayed his returns leaving the tenacious Thai a worthy winner.

Harsh Mankad, however, had the consolation of posting a victory in the doubles partnering Ajay Ramaswamy. The pair beat the fourth-seeded duo of Vikrant Chadha and Kunj Majumdar 6-4, 7- 5 in the final.

The Satellite caravan now moves to New Delhi, for the third and final leg of the series, starting from June 19 and it will be followed by the Masters championship at the same venue.

The results (prefix denotes seeding):Singles final: 1-Danai Udomchoke (Thai) bt 4-Harsh Mankad (Ind) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles final: Harsh Mankad/Ajay Ramaswamy (Ind) bt Vikrant Chadha (Ind)/Kunj Majumdar (US) 6-4, 7-5.

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