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India’s Sanam Singh overcame stiff resistance from American Michael Shabaz before prevailing in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to advance to the final of the $15,000 Tevlin Men’s ITF F8 Futures tennis tournament being played in Toronto, Canada.
Sanam, who is seeded second in the tournament, wrested the early initiative, breaking Shabaz’s serve to pave the way for a 6-3 triumph in the first set.
Trailing a set, the fifth seeded American dug deep into his reserves and gained the upper hand breaching Sanam’s serve and soon marched ahead to seal the second set at 6-3.
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The decider was a gripping affair as both players gave nothing away.
The 25-year-old Chandigarh-born showed nerves of steel towards the fag end of the match, effecting the crucial break of serve to bag the set at 7-5 to seal his place in the final.
Earlier in the quarterfinals, the 379th ranked Indian prevailed over American Evan King in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(0).
He had breezed past Duck Hee Lee of Korea in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.
It may be worth mentioning that Sanam had slumped forty places in the latest ATP rankings, and the impressive showing in the tourney should help him arrest the rapid fall in rankings.
Sanam will now face top seed Peter Polansky of Canada who got a walkover from fourth seeded Indian Vijayant Malik in the semifinals.
Earlier in the quarterfinals Vijayant accounted for eighth seeded Fritz Wolmarans of South Africa 7-6(3), 6-2.
He had disposed off American Sekou Bangoura in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.
The 450th ranked Panipal-born lad earlier showed the tournament exit door to Canadian qualifier Alexandru Pasareanu in straight sets 6-3, 6-0 in round one.
Meanwhile at the Sharm El Sheikh Egypt F24 ITF Futures tennis tournament, India’s N Sriram Balaji crashed out in the quarterfinals to Egypt’s Mazen Osana 6-7(3), 4-6.
Balaji had reached the reached the quarterfinals after his Polish opponent Rafal Teurer gave him a walkover.
The second seeded Indian, who plunged sixty nine places in the latest ATP rankings, is coming off a semifinal finish in the Sharm El Sheikh Egypt F23 ITF Futures tennis tournament last week.
He earlier launched his campaign with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Canada’s Eric Vehovec.
