Ghouse wins second leg of ITF Satellite

Top seed Mustafa Ghouse won the second leg of the $6,250 ITF men’s Satellite tennis circuit, beating unseeded Sandeep Kirtane 6-2, 6-2 in the final at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association courts in Mumbai on Saturday.

In a one-sided encounter, the Indian Davis Cupper proved too strong for giant-killer Kirtane to win in a little under 45 minutes.

Much was expected of the final following the exploits of Kirtane during the week, particularly in the semi-final against Israel’s Raviv Volkovitzsky, but Ghouse’s high-kicking serve and all-round display turned it into a one-side affair. Once Kirtane was broken in the fourth game of the first set, there was little he could do to deny the Ghouse his maiden Satellite crown.

Ghouse, who served eight aces to Kirtane’s none, effected two breaks in each set – in the fourth and eighth games – to romp home.

“I didn’t expect to win so easily,” confessed Ghouse after his triumph. “After his [Kirtane’s] brilliant showing during the week, I knew I could not allow him a chance. In fact, he could not get his game going today.”

Kirtane’s cousin Nitin and Vishal Uppal won the doubles crown on Friday, beating Rishi Sridhar and Kamala Kannan 6-4, 6-1 in the final.

Earlier reports
Ghouse, Kirtane to clash in the final
Ghouse rallies to enter last four
Ghouse, Manoj Mahadevan in last eight
Japnese qualifier shocks Kirtane