Bengal Wizards’ Niki Poonacha gave good account of himself by edging out Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Bengaluru SG Pipers in the men’s singles match of the Tennis Premier League Season 6 at Cricket Club of India (CCI) tennis courts on Wednesday. However, Bengaluru SG Pipers asserted dominance in the doubles matches to prevail 52-48.
Indian Davis Cupper Poonacha came to field confident after Bengal Wizards’ Kamilla Rakhimova prevailed with a scoreline of 14-11 in the Women’s Singles category against with Gabriela Knutson of Bengaluru SG Pipers.
Kamilla won crucial moments to stay in front during the game and prevailed in the game played on a 25-point format. The player who has more points is declared winner after both players win total 25 points in the match.
Kamilla was pumped up and cheered by her teammates sitting on the bench. Despite commiting a few errors she kept Gabriela under pressure and sealed the game.
Despite 1-0 lead for Bengal team, Poonacha found himself at the receiving end soon due to quality tennis from Miralles. He was trailing but quickly found mojo in a rapid TPL format. A thundering cross court shot, followed by a strong service and then a smart drop saw him claw back in the game. He asserted dominance with a forehand winner to get comfortable 12-8 lead.
Down and out Miralles wasn’t going to give up without a fight. he sent in a powerful forehand towards right corner to win a point but volleyed out later to hand Poonacha advantage again. But a rare error from Poonacha found the net to make the game closer.
A fault on the first serve then and shot in net again made it 13-12 but the Bengaluru player ran out of time and handed the talented Indian the game and Bengal 2-0 lead.
Bengaluru SG Pipers’ pairing of Gabriela Knutson and Anirudh Chandrasekar got the better of Kamilla Rakhimova and Sriram Balaji of Bengal Wizards, winning 14-11 in the Mixed Doubles category.
In the Men’s Doubles category, Poonacha and Balaji lost to Chandrasekar and Miralles with a scoreline of 10-15, helping Bengaluru team win a closely contested match 52-48.
Sumit Nagal’s Gujarat Panthers also won their encounter against Punjab Patriots. Ekaterina Kazionova gave Gujarat Panthers the perfect start, cruising to a 19-6 victory against Akanksha Nitture in the Women’s Singles category. Mukund Sasikumar won the Men’s Singles against Sumit Nagal with a scoreline of 15-10.
In the Mixed Doubles category, Ekaterina Kazionova and Vijay Sundar Prashanth of Gujarat Panthers won their match against Akanksha Nitture and Saketh Myneni by a scoreline of 15-10.
Although the Punjab Patriots won the Men’s Doubles category with Saketh Myneni and Mukund Sasikumar overcoming Sumit Nagal and Vijay Sundar Prashanth by a scoreline of 15-10, Gujarat Panthers won the match 54-46.
Hugo Gaston and Conny Perrin will be in action for the Chennai Smashers when they take on the Hyderabad Strikers. To conclude the action on day two, Rohan Bopanna’s Rajasthan Rangers will face off against Yash Mumbai Eagles.
