Chennai, Jan 18 (FN Agency) Indian pair annexed the double titles on Saturday evening, while Russia’s Eric Vanshelboim of Ukraine will meet UK’s Oliver Crawford for the Singles title tomorrow in the BR Adityan ITF Men’s Future Tennis Championship here. In an all Indian final, the duo of Chirag Duhan and Dev Javia fought hard before winning against their compatriots Ishaque Eqbal and Aryan Shah (IND) 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 in three gruelling sets to pocket the doubles title. In the single’s semifinals, Eric Vanshelboim came back from behind to oust Egor Agafonov of Russia 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1, while Oliver got it past against Greekman Stefanos Skellaridis 6-3,6-1 in straight sets. The summit clash will be held at the SDAT Tennis stadium tomorrow. Excellent tennis was on display as the singles semifinal winners went through to the final in contrasting styles. Second seed and ranked 403 Oliver Crawford was in great form once again as he put out 4th seeded Stefanos Sakellaridis in two straight sets. Once again Oliver displayed a variety of serves and strong ground strokes and had Stefanos scurrying to all parts of the court. The Greek on his part did try to counter but was no match for the guile of Oliver who will now take on Eric Vanshelboim of Ukraine, the eighth seed, in the final.
Eric needed 2 hours and 47 minutes to snuff out the challenge of talented Egor Agafonov. Eric started the match in steady fashion to take a break and move up 3-1, but Agafonov broke back immediately and held serve to level the scores. Both players displayed an amazing variety of strokes, court craft and agility and each point was exhilarating. In the ninth game there was an outstanding point – after a long baseline rally Eric played a drop shot which Egor ran down and returned with an acute angle, Eric scampered and returned. Though Egor had an open court he was forced to slow down as the ball was very low. Eric was able to back up and played a forcing shot which Egor volleyed only to see a lovely forehand passing shot from Eric landing near the baseline. At 5-4 Eric had two match points at 15-40. But Egor rose to the task and saved both – one with a volley and another with a well placed serve and went on to hold serve to level 5 all. Both players traded a break of serve and the set moved to a tiebreak. Agafonov raised his game playing two crisp volleys and forcing a forehand to take the upper hand and with the tie break 7-4. In the second set Eric led 3-1 and steadied himself against the tiring Russian to win the set 6-4 and continued his dominance to bag the deciding third set 6-1 with authority.
The all-Indian doubles final turned out be an electrifying affair with Aryan Shah displaying amazing reflexes and volleying skills and his partner Ishaque Eqbal displayed amazing touch and control to send up unplayable lobs troubling Dev Javia and Chirag Duhan to take a facile and quick 5- 0 lead. At this point Chirag and Dev woke up from their slumber, raised their game to hold serve twice and reduce the lead to 3-5. In the tenth game Aryan and Ishaque returned strongly to take the first set 6-3. In the second Chirag and Dev put up an improved display and pressurised their opponents into making errors and won 6-3. In the deciding super tiebreak both pairs played exciting rallies with Chirag and Dev taking an and going on to lead 9-7. Chirag was about to deliver his second serve when a light drizzle halted play. On Resumption after 25 minutes Chirag and Dev closed out the tie break 10-8 to win a well-deserved title, US dollars 1782 (Rs.1.48 lakhs) and 25 valuable ATP points, while the runner up pair received USD dollars 1023 (appr Rs.85000/-) and 16 ATP points Results : Singles : Semifinals : Eric Vanshelboim (Ukr) bt Egor Agafonov (Rus) 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1. Oliver Crawford (UK) bt Stefanos Sakellaridis (Greece) 6-3, 6-1. Doubles : Finals : Chirag Duhan (Ind)/Dev Javia (Ind) bt Ishaque Eqbal (Ind)/Aryan Shah (Ind) 3-6, 6-3,10-8.