Top seed Aarav Challani knocked out as Ribhav Saroha eyes double crown at Fenesta Open
Top seed Aarav Challani is knocked out of the Fenesta Open as Ribhav Saroha moves closer to a double victory in New Delhi.
The 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship witnessed a major shake-up at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Complex on Thursday, as the top seed in the Boys U-14 category, Aarav Challani, was unexpectedly knocked out of the tournament.
U-14 Shock: Satya Chintagunta Topples Top Seed
In a thrilling quarterfinal clash, Satya Chintagunta secured a hard-fought victory over Aarav Challani, winning 4-6, 6-4, 1-6 to enter the semifinals. Despite dropping the first set, Chintagunta displayed immense resilience to turn the tide of the match.
Reflecting on the three-hour battle, Chintagunta admitted to feeling the physical toll. "First, it was a very exhausting match... In the second set, I was fully exhausted. I didn't know what to do. He started giving nice high balls. I found it very difficult. In the third set, I fought myself. I tried my best," he shared.
When asked about the pressure of facing the tournament's top seed, Chintagunta remained confident, stating that his previous victory against Challani gave him the certainty that he could win again.
Ribhav Saroha's Quest for the Double Crown
While the U-14 category saw an upset, Chandigarh's Ribhav Saroha continued his dominant run. Having already clinched the Boys U-18 singles title last week, Saroha is now chasing a double crown. He advanced to the Boys U-16 semifinals with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over P. Nallagundla.
Saroha's path to victory was interrupted by a significant rain delay of nearly five hours. He revealed his unique method of handling the break: "I slept during that break, and I was able to regain the focus and energy. Then I was doing deep breathing exercises before the match so that I could just get back straight into the rhythm."
His strategy focused on patience and court movement, waiting for the right moment to commit to the volley and avoid unforced errors.
Other Key Results and Semifinal Lineups
Boys U-16
Alongside Saroha, the semifinals will feature a clash between No. 8 seed Vivaan Mirdha and Yashwin Dahiya, both of whom secured straight-sets victories in their respective quarterfinals.
Boys U-14
The semifinals will also see Second seed Puneeth Manohar, who dominated eighth seed Adeshbir Ghuman 6-3, 6-1, and No. 9 seed Sujai Pothula, who defeated third seed Nibras Hussain 6-3, 6-4.
Girls U-14
Second seed Siddhi Pandey moved into the last four after a 6-4, 6-1 win over Saatvi Mardaniya. Pandey admitted to feeling nervous against her opponent, who recently won an ITF title, but credited her mental approach for the win. Joining her in the semifinals is No. 10 seed Aaradhana Tehlan, who rallied from a set down to beat No. 8 seed Purvi Patwa 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Girls U-16
One of the most grueling matches of the day was played by No. 14 seed Khushi Kadian, who overcame Aahida Singh 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2) in a marathon encounter. Kadian joins third seed Aaradhya Meena, fifth seed Akshita Antil, and seventh seed Ranjhana Sangram in the semifinals.
Quick Results Summary
- Boys U-16 Quarter-Finals:
- Ribhav Saroha [1] def. P. Nallagundla 6-2, 6-2
- Yashwin Dahiya def. Yaj Malik [6] 6-3, 6-1
- Vivaan Mirdha [8] def. Harsh Marwaha 6-4, 6-4
- Kushagra Arora def. Monodip Dey [12] 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
- Girls U-16 Quarter-Finals:
- Aaradhya Meena [3] def. Shravee Deore 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
- Akshita Antil [5] def. Pooja Nagaraj 6-4, 1-0 (retd.)