Published>Fri, May 14 10 10:36 PM
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) India's Karan Rastogi overpowered China's Yu Chang 6-3, 6-4, and will face top seeded South African Rik De Voest who breezed past Ranjeet Virali-Mirugesan 6-1, 6-0 in the $15,000 men's International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament here Saturday.
Ranjeet, however, won the doubles title partenering Yu Xin-Yuan of China. The Sino-Indian combination, seeded fourth, overcame the fighthing Thailand pair of Kittiphong Wachiramanowwong and Weerapat Doakmaiklee, seeded third, 3-6, 6-1, 11-9.
In the singles title clash Saturday, it will be 23-year-old Rastogi's second successive final on the trot. He lost to Uzbek Murad Inoyatov in Kolkata last week. De Voest knocked out Inoyatov here Thursday.
It was solid showing by Rastogi. Back on circuit after a two-year injury lay-off, the former Indian Davis Cupper played aggressively against the athletic Chan who shocked fourth seed Rohan Gajjar of India in the first round.
The Chinese matched Rastogi in the baseline battle. Though he came up with some stunning returns, he was far too erratic to hustle the Indian.
Rastogi was also the better server, hitting to Chan's relatively weaker backhand side to clinch critical points. Chan's serve paled in comparison.
A double break gave the Indian the first set, though the Chinese pulled one back.
Chan started the second set on a rousing note and Rastogi was rattled a bit to drop his first service game. The Indian soon steadied himself to break back in the seventh game. He then reeled off the next three games to win the set and the match.
'I lost my concentration in the second set, but I recovered in time to see that the match did not go into a decider. Chan came up with some very good returns but his passes went awry,' said Rastogi, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament.
In the first semifinal, De Voest seems to get better with each outing. He simply toyed with third-seeded Ranjeet, who could do little to stop him. He did not concede a single point on his serve in the first set and the only time Ranjeet managed to hold his serve in the entire match was in the third game of the first set.
Rastogi acknowledges De Voest's powerful game. 'He has been playing really well, but I will focus on my strengths.'
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