Yuki edges out Balaji to win ITF Futures title

Yuki Bhambri trampled Sriram Balaji 6-2, 6-2 to win his 12th Futures singles title. It was Yuki's third victory over Sriram Balaji in the professional circuit.

Yuki Bhambri has five singles and six doubles titles at the Challenger level.

Top seed Yuki Bhambri outplayed second seed Sriram Balaji 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the $15,000 ITF men's Futures tennis tournament at the CLTA Stadium on Saturday.

It was a flawless performance by the 24-year-old Yuki, except when he dropped serve in the fourth game of the second set after having taken a 3-0 lead. The 26-year-old Balaji converted the third break point in that game, on a double fault by Yuki, but did not get any other chance to break serve before or after.

It was the third victory for the 369th ranked Yuki over Balaji in the professional circuit, in as many meetings. It was Yuki's 12th Futures singles title. He has five singles and six doubles titles at the Challenger level.

After the successful Davis Cup outing against New Zealand in Pune, Yuki was busy winning the individual and team titles for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the Petroleum tennis championship in Assam last week.

Even though there will be a series of Futures tournaments over the next few weeks in India, Yuki was candid in saying that he had enough of it.

"I am done with the Futures. I will be training in Delhi for the next 10 days. I plan to compete in three Challengers in China next month," he said.

He won a Futures title in Hong Kong last year, after missing over six months because of tennis elbow.