ITF W15/W35s & M15/M25s Nakhon Si Thammarat, THA (Aug-Sep 2024)

[sameerph]

Vaidehi and Shrivalli are also thru to the doubles final.

Mukund thru to the SF in M25.

[QF] (2) Mukund Sasikumar (IND,454) d. Tomohiro Masabayashi (JPN,938) 63 16 62

Next,

[SF] (2) Mukund Sasikumar (IND,454) vs. (5) Yuri Dzhavakian (UKR,505)

In mens doubles, Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta has reached the final alogwith his American parner Nik Chappell.

[jayakris]

In doubles at the W35 in Nakhorn Si Thamarat, THA (Hard), top seeds Vaidehi and Shrivalli won the first round 75 63 versus Natsuho Arakawa and Kisa Yoshioka of Japan. They have already got a walkover in the QF, and are in the SFs now. Humera was also in the doubles draw, partnering Paris Corley (USA). They lost the R1 today, 57 26 to the Thai pair, Lidia Podgorichani and Kamonwan Yodpetch

#1 seeds Vaidehi/Shrivalli won the SF over Akari Inoue and Erika Sema of Japan, 75 75, and face another Japanese pair in the final - unseeded Kanako Morisaki and Hikaru Sato.

[jayakris]

In the ITF M25,

[SF] (1) Nick Chappell (USA)/ Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta (IND) d. (4) Yurii Dzhavakian (UKR)/ Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (MAS), 62 62
[F] (1) Nick Chappell (USA)/ Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta (IND) vs (2) Jake Delaney (AUS)/ Jesse Delaney (AUS)

[sameerph]

Vaidehi lost in the SF.

[SF] (7) Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND,488) l. Mariia Tkacheva (RUS,528) 57 16

From 5-4 in the first set, lost 9 of the next 10 games. Just could not do much against precise hitting from Tkacheva who was really good. Also Vaidehi must be tired after all those matches in last 2 weeks.

Anyway, a good couple of weeks run which will take Vaidehi to new career high of around 420.

[jayakris]

A tremendous blitzkrieg by Mukund just now!

[SF] (2) Mukund Sasikumar (IND,454) d. (5) Yuri Dzhavakian (UKR,505), 61 61

Mukund was playing flawlessly today. He may have missed only some 3 or 4 shots the whole match. In a zone. Perhaps the most powerful shot-making I have ever seen from him. Dzhavakian was probably not at his best, but we would never know if even his best form would have made any difference... He pretty much gave up after a few games because there was nothing he could do against our man who was in full flow and smashing the ball deep, left, right and wherever he wanted it to go, oh so effortlessly. Short ball, long ball, high-bounce, low-bounce... nothing mattered, as Mukund was picking it all up and hitting it across with power. Quick movements around the court too. At one point when Mukund hit a heat-missile winner, Dzhavakian was so exasperated that he yelled out, "where can I get his racquet?"... Haha ...

It would all only make one wonder - "why the hell can't you play like this more often, you son of a gun, Mukund?" ... It was a joy seeing him play like this. But tomorrow will be another day, and the only thing I am sure of, is that I have no clue about what version of Mukund will show up. The top-200 version or the top-500 version?

Leo Borg lost in the other SF to the 8th seed Kasidit Samrej, who has been the best performer in this series, having gone 20-3 with 3 finals and two titles in these 6 Thai events so far. Now in his 4th final. He has already beaten Mukund once two weeks ago too. Hope our man can turn the tables on him tomorrow.

[F] (2) Mukund Sasikumar (IND,454) vs (8) Kasidit Samrej (THA,614)

[jayakris]

In doubles,

[F] (1) Nick Chappell (USA)/ Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta (IND) l. (2) Jake Delaney (AUS)/ Jesse Delaney (AUS), 67(4) 67(3)

[sameerph]

Mukund lost in the final in straight sets. Watched only a few games, so not sure which Mukund version showed up. But, Samrej looked a very good player.

[F] (2) Mukund Sasikumar (IND,454) l. (8) Kasidit Samrej (THA,614) 36 36

Anyway, 16 points added to his total which will take him close top top 400, around #410. Not too many points to defend this year now, so can really go up with few more performances like this week.

[jayakris]

Samrej is playing the best tennis of his life these days. Mukund didn't get enough chances to break Samrej who was serving like a devil possessed in this match. 15 aces and only one DF in his 9 service games. Some service winners too. At one point I saw him serve thrice in a row from ad courts to the corner. Mukund had positioned himself well and knew he was going to do that, but only managed to hit one back to the net. Mukund is not great in his BH service returns, but he is adequate. That was not enough today. He was only getting 1 or 2 points to even play and try for a break in every game. Mukund himself was serving quite okay with 7 aces and 2 DFs. Maybe he needed to hit a couple more aces at the break points on him.

It was 48-67 difference in points, but if we take out the aces and DFs from either guy, and it was a much closer 40-45 when the balls were in play. Samrej is simply better, and Mukund had to win at least 5-6 more points when the balls were in play. He couldn't.