New Delhi: Top seed Aqeel Khan of Pakistan became the first foreigner to win India?s national hardcourt title when he triumphed in the final of the DSCL Open championships on Saturday, while local girl Sanaa Bhambri achieved a rare triple crown.
The 24-year-old came back from a one-set deficit to beat second-seeded Indian Vinod Sridhar 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. The win fetched Aqeel Rs 1 lakh, while Sridhar took home Rs 80,000. Another foreigner, German Marcus Hilpert, had won the national grasscourt crown in Duliajan in 1997.
Meanwhile, Sania Mirza scored a grand double in the ITF women?s meet by winning the singles and doubles titles in Lagos. Sania beat third seed Dissany Dabek (US) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to win the singles crown, according to information reaching on Saturday. Then Sania and Sherry Stevens of New Zealand defeated Chanelle Sheepers and R. De Beers of South Africa 6-1, 6-4 to win the double title.
Max-Mahesh out
Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi bowed out of the Lyon Grand Prix in the semi-finals on Friday. According to information received here, the top seeds lost 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 4-6 to unseeded Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram. (PTI)
