Asian Games tennis; Somdev Devvarman wins the men’s singles final in China
The 25-year-old Somdev Devvarman got the better of top seed Denis Istomin from Uzbekistan in two sets, to win seventh gold for his country in the final of the men’s singles tennis event at the Asian Games on Tuesday. The score
line was 6-1, 6-2.
The Indian tennis sensation had also captured the double's gold, teaming up with Sanam Singh earlier on Monday.
Somdev, who is currently ranked number 106 in the South African Airways ATP list, fought tirelessly to provide his country with a gold medal in the men’s doubles event along with his partner Sanam Singh in a battle that lasted
for one and a half hour.
They fought hard for a three setter win in the final against the local favourite pair of Li Zhe and Gong Maoxin from China who were seeded number two to win the gold. The final match score was 6-3, 6-7, (4) 10-8.
The right hander looked in total control of his game right from the start of the match against Istomin on Tuesday. Somdev, with the help of his effective forehands and devilish serve did not let his foe bounce back at any stage
of the final encounter and in the end sealed win in straight sets.
The Assam born made his way into the final of the men’s singles event in the 16th edition of the Asian Games in China with a semi final win over Tatsuma Ito of Japan. He showed a lot of spunk and fighting spirit while
confirming his final spot.
In the semi final encounter that was stretched to a time period of two hours, the second seed Indian took the first set comfortably at 6-2. In the following set, he was stunned by his Japanese opponent who went on to win it comprehensively
at 0-6 to level the scores. In the decisive set, the Indian once again improved his game and fought well under pressure to take the set at 6-3 in the end.
Somdev, who rose to a career high ranking of world number ninety six back in August this season, has now registered his name as the first Indian player to win the men’s singles final in the sixteen years history of the Asian Games.
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