Sriram Balaji claims 1st ITF singles title of 2014 season

Astana, Kazakhstan: India`s N Sriram Balaji clinched his first ITF Futures singles title of the season when he scored a comfortable straight sets win over Liang-Chi Huang in the summit clash, here Saturday.

Playing his second final of the season, 377th ranked Balaji overwhelmed his 282nd-ranked and third seed Chinese Taipei rival 6-3 6-2 in the USD 15,000 event. The fourth seed Indian broke his rival four times in the match while he lost his serve only one time. It is Balaji`s fifth singles title overall, having won two titles last year and two in 2012. The last time he competed in a singles title-clash was in Trichy in March this year. The 24-year-old player from Tamil Nadu had reached the doubles final yesterday with compatriot VM Ranjeet but they had to be content with a runners-up finish yesterday.