Bopanna wins ITF Futures crown

Rohan Bopanna claimed his maiden international title when he beat Dmitri Mazur of Uzbekistan 7-6(7-5), 5-7, 6-4 in the final of the ITF men's Futures tennis tournament at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association courts on Saturday.

There was double delight for the 22-year-old from Karnataka as the win came a day after he won the doubles title along with Vijay Kannan.

Bopanna will return home richer by $1300 apart from gaining 12 ATP points.

The All India Tennis Association too acknowledged his potential by retaining him in the Davis Cup squad on Friday.

For Mazur, it was yet another stumble at the last post. He has won only one title, which came way back in 2000, at Bangkok.

Yet, the Uzbek did win a few hearts with his relaxed demeanour. Throughout the week he sported an everlasting smile, even during matches when things were not going his way.

"I keep smiling because that way I try and be relaxed," Mazur said after the match.

On the contrary, Bopanna's temper was always on the boil. But the same hot-headedness also provided the Karnataka lad the steely resolve, which helped him come from behind twice in the match.

In the first set, after dropping serve on the seventh game, Bopanna broke Mazur back in the tenth game to push the set into the tie-breaker.

He did it again in the second set, breaking Mazur twice before himself losing serve while on the verge of victory. Perhaps, nerves got the better of him. However, he broke back in the opening game of the third set and then never looked back thereafter to clinch the title.

Earlier reports
Bopanna romps into final
Bopanna advances, Srinath exits
Three Indians in last eight
Vishal Uppal shocks third seed Mark Hilton
Sridhar, Sipaeya lose in first round