SOMDEV STAGES REMARKABLE COMEBACK TO REACH SINGLES FINAL
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PTI
The Pioneer
Monday, November 22, 2010
Guangzhou - Somdev Devvarman inched closer to a historic tennis gold
at the Asian Games as the gritty Indian overcame a stunning second-
set lapse to tame Tatsuma Ito and seal a place in the men's singles
summit clash here today.
The second seed Somdev came back from the brink to subdue Japanese
rival with a 6-2 0-6 6-3 triumph and ensured the country at least of
a silver in the men's singles, which would be a first for the
country.
Top woman player Sania Mirza had won a silver in 2006 in Doha in
singles but no Indian before Somdev has reached the gold medal round
in men's singles.
India has won three bronze medals in men's singles so far. Leander
Paes had won it in 1994 in Hiroshima Games and Mahesh Bhupathi and
Prahlad Srinath had won it during 1998 Games in Bangkok.
In the baseline slugfest, that lasted almost two hours, second seed
Somdev pocketed the opening set against Ito, ranked 195, with a
measure of comfort but was then blown off the court by the fourth
seed Ito, who clinched the second 6-0.
Things were looking difficult for the Indian world no. 106 when he
and his rival traded service breaks in the first four games. Somdev
then staged an excellent rally under pressure by saving two break
points in the fifth game.
That was the turning point as Somdev regained poise and broke his
rival for the third time, this time decisively, before taking the set
6-3 and reaching the gold medal round where he will face top seed
Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
Istomin was too good for third-seeded Japanese opponent Go Soeda and
completed a facile 6-1, 6-0 victory.
After saving two break points and facing a third, Somdev came up with
an attacking forehand lob at full stretch from the corner that sailed
over the Japanese waiting for the kill on the other side and landed
just inside the baseline.
From that stage on, the Indian was on song as he held serve for a 3-2
lead and then broke his rival immediately to make it 4-2 with an
excellent return of serve that was netted by Ito.
Later he told reporters that the fifth game when he was down and out
was the turning point.
"It was a great match. I just hung in there, saved the break points
in the fifth game and held on to my serve," he said.
Somdev, who played his 13th match in the tournament as he is
competing in men's doubles event also, said the packed schedule was
not a problem.
"I have done it before, playing the Challenger and the Davis Cup. And
I am not traveling here and my physical trainer is there," said the
24-year-old Somdev.
Istomin said he expected a tough battle in tomorrow's final against
Somdev.
"I have played against Somdev a couple of times before. He is very
tough," said the Uzbek top seed.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/298310/Somdev-stages-remarkable-comeback-to-reach-singles-final.html
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