ITF men’s Futures: Sasi Kumar Mukund triumphs

It was the third singles title in the professional circuit for Mukund.

Sasi Kumar Mukund (right) beat Sami Reinwein of Germany in the final.

The Commonwealth youth champion Sasi Kumar Mukund beat Sami Reinwein of Germany 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the final of the $15,000 ITF men’s Futures tennis tournament on Saturday.

It was the third singles title in the professional circuit for Mukund, 20, who had won a title each in the last two years — one at home and one in Indonesia.

"I am happy with this title because I had not made the final for two years in India," said Mukund.

In a well-contested final, Mukund played sharp at the start to take a 2-0 lead with a break in the second game, which proved decisive in helping him clinch the set.

Mukund conceded that he had become defensive midway through the second set, which saw him lose four games on the trot, and losing that set.

However, in the decider, Mukund did not give his opponent any chance and tightened his grip after going up a break in the fifth game.

Mukund converted two of five breakpoints that he forced. He dropped serve twice in the second set, but did not offer a single breakpoint to the 24-year-old German in the first or third sets.

After losing the semifinals to Vishnu Vardhan in Jorhat last week and the quarterfinals to Haadin Bava rather tamely in Chandigarh earlier, it was a welcome title for Mukund. He gave credit to coach Aditya Sachdeva in Delhi for guiding him. He also praised the travelling coach Manu Bajpai who has been working with him for three weeks.

Mukund had also made two semifinals of doubles in three weeks. He will play the fourth ITF men’s event in the Indian circuit in Bhilai next week.

The results (final):

Sasi Kumar Mukund bt Sami Reinwein (Ger) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.