Dekel comes back from the dead

By Kamesh Srinivasan

CHANDIGARH, MAY 31. He was on the mat, close to being counted out. But Or Dekel of Israel bounced back in the nick of time to beat the count, like a champion fighter, and record a 7-6 (9-7), 1-6, 6-4 victory over the second-seeded James Auckland of Britain in the semifinals of the Satellite Masters tennis event at the CLTA Complex here on Thursday.

The champion of the third leg, 20-year-old Dekel was staring at defeat, down 1-4 in the decider, having been broken twice, in the first and fifth games. However, Dekel, who had beaten Auckland in the semifinals of the previous leg in straight sets, played the end game like a chess champion, to reel off the last five games, breaking the Briton in the sixth, eighth and tenth games, converting the first breakpoint each time.

``After I had won the first set, he played unbelievably to be up 6-1, 4-1. I thought the match was over then. But he fell down a bit in the end, and I took advantage of that'', said Dekel, who has taken his tally to 55 circuit points with his entry in the final.

Dekel was at his crafty best in the end, varying the pace, angle and spin, to outclass his opponent with a tenacious display. Yet, the pendulum could have swung either way in the climax, but Dekel did well to save a breakpoint in the ninth game with a surprise second serve on first delivery.

Auckland had played a sparkling game throughout, and was a class act with his attractive game, serving and stroking with a touch of class. His confidence failed him in the end, and he wound up the two-hour entertainment with a double fault.

Even in the first set, Auckland had underlined his ability by getting a break back in the fifth game, after being broken in the second game. He also saved a breakpoint each in the sixth and eighth games. Better, he saved three setpoints in the tenth game to force the tie-break, and then saved one more setpoint.

The stylish Briton, sure to get a wild card in Wimbledon, missed two setpoints in the tie-break, one with a double fault. He conceded the fifth setpoint with a double fault and put a forehand into the net in ending the first set which lasted 54 minutes.

Thereafter, Auckland was on a song before the dream sequence was brought to an abrupt end by the fierce strokeplay of Dekel, who went for the jugular in the climax.

Auckland missed the race for winning the circuit and earning the bonus ATP points, as he finished with 53 circuit points, that converts to 23 ATP points.

Dekel's race will now be with John Doran of Ireland, who reached his third successive final, with a 7-5, 6-0 triumph over Daniel Lesske of Germany.

The German led 5-2 before losing his way in a flurry of errors, even as Doran made a dramatic turnaround with his strong game, as much as he did with his shrewd utilisation of the disturbances in the stadium to his advantage in buying time to tease Lesske.

Lesske was also sporting in conceding an ace for Doran, against the umpire's call, in the eighth game, and the latter came up with two more aces in that game to signal his recovery, which brooked little resistance thereafter. Lesske finished with seven ATP points.

Having started the circuit as the top seed, Doran will be keen to finish on top, when he plays Dekel, in a repeat final of the last leg. The Irishman has taken his tally to 54 circuit points. In an ideal climax to the four-week circuit, the winner of the Masters will win the circuit as well.

The results:

Singles (semifinals): John Doran (Irl) bt Daniel Lesske (Ger) 7- 5, 6-0; Or Dekel (Isr) bt James Auckland (GBR) 7-6 (9-7), 1-6, 6- 4.

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