Qualifier Gokhale ousts Mannerpalli to enter pre-quarters

Qualifier Aditya Gokhale played percentage tennis and knocked out his more fancied first round rival Nikhil Mannerpalli in the boys` singles of the CCI-ITF junior tennis tournament on Tuesday.

Mumbai: Qualifier Aditya Gokhale played percentage tennis and knocked out his more fancied first round rival Nikhil Mannerpalli in the boys` singles of the CCI-ITF junior tennis tournament here on Tuesday.

Gokhale, who came through two qualifying rounds, won 7-5 3-6 6-2 in a tie that lasted almost two hours to move into the last 16 stage. He showed a lot of confidence, moved well on court and hit winners from the baselines to outfox his opponent. Two other qualifiers, Yash Yadav and Yugal Bansal, were, however, eliminated after putting up a good fight. Yadav lost to Sanil Jagtiani 6-3 6-7 (4) 3-6 in a long drawn battle and Bansal was beaten by Alex Solanki 7-5 5-7 6-3. In the girls` singles, Egyptian Nermeen Shawky taught a lesson or two to qualifier Nandini Sharma on fitness and court craft as she beat her 6-7 (6), 6-4,6-4 to advance into the pre-quarters. Results: Boys singles (1st round): Chanudom Wiriyajanyong (Tha) bt Sachin Kumar 6-2, 7-5; Alex Solanki bt Yugal Bansal 7-5, 5-7, 6-3; Sanil Jagtiani bt Yash Yadav 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3; Aditya Gokhale bt Sai Nikhil Mannerpalli 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; Ravikumar Ballekere bt Manav Pondukule 6-1,6-0. Girls singles (1st round): Simran Kaur Sethi bt Isha Budwal 6-0, 4-6, 6-2; Nermeen Shawky (FGY) bt Nandini Shama 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4, Avika Sagwal bt Sai Nikkitha Chillla 6-1, 6-1; Karman Kaur bt Rajshree Rathod 6-4, 6-1; Mihika Yadav bt Pareen Shivekar 6-4,6-2; Tansushree Vale bt Kanishka Chawla 6-1, 7-5; Yinklak Jittakoat (THA) bt Moulika Ram 6-1, 6-2.