ITF India Futures (4 weeks) March 2021

[sameerph]

If one looks at our ITF junior rankings, none of boys are in top 100. 3 of the boys in top 150, Nishant Dabas, Aman Dahiya and Chirag Duhan did well current ITF junior circuit in India but neither of them have played higher level junior tournaments or anything on pro tour to judge how good they can be. We will know in a year or two. Our top junior before that 19 year old Dev Javia is still not upto this level as can be seen in current futures series.

Few players on mens side do mature late ( like Rohan Bopanna or Saketh Myneni). So, we can hope something from these kids or Manish or Terrence.

Otherwise, we may have to wait all the way and hope 14 year old Manas Dhamne fulfills the promise that he is showing at this age.

[sameerph]

Oh, Arjun you posted similar to what I posted above.

One more thing I remembered is still hoping that 24 year Sasi Kumar Mukund can rediscover his form. He had shown last year that he has the potential to become a top 200 level player or better. But, post covid he has been been in bad form.

[Atithee]

Ladies/girls? How are we positioned there? Slightly better?

[sameerph]

In women, we have 22 year old Karman, 21 year old Pranjala and 22 year old Zeel who are decent prospects but Karman and Pranjala have both been affected by injuries. Hope they come back stronger. Our next best prospect 19 year old Mahak has gone off to US college scene. Lets see if she gets back on pro tour as a better player or peters out.

But, beyond that I do not see any special talent there too in 16-19 age group.

[prasen9]

This Abhinav Shanmugam guy is slightly, barely younger than Sumit. Any chance he can be a late bloomer? I know I am clutching at straws. Anyone seen him play?

[suresh]

This Abhinav Shanmugam guy is slightly, barely younger than Sumit. Any chance he can be a late bloomer? I know I am clutching at straws. Anyone seen him play?

An interview with Abhinav Shanmugam by Vatsal. (circa March 2020)

[sameerph]

I expect Paras to give a stiff fight as he already has played the Swede and lost 3&3 and might know how to push more this time.

Paras did put up a stiff fight. He was up 5-2 in the third set but lost 5 straight games in the end.

Everyone has lost so far.

[R2] Vijay Sunder Prashnath (IND,1350) l. (8) Zane Khan (USA,643) 36 57
[R2] (Q) Ishaque Iqbal (IND,2013) l. (3) Aidan Mchugh (GBR,544) 16 36
[R2] (Q) Paras Dahiya (IND,1396) l. (5) Jonathan Mridha (SWE,584) 16 75 57

[PKBasu]

Dhruv Sunish and Paras Dahiya played well, were ahead a break (more in the case of Paras) in the third set, but still managed to lose. Clearly these fellows don't have their temperament sorted out, although they seem to have the game.

[Dinesh]

In women, we have 22 year old Karman, 21 year old Pranjala and 22 year old Zeel who are decent prospects but Karman and Pranjala have both been affected by injuries. Hope they come back stronger. Our next best prospect 19 year old Mahak has gone off to US college scene. Lets see if she gets back on pro tour as a better player or peters out.

But, beyond that I do not see any special talent there too in 16-19 age group.

Nandini Das is another US College tennis player, who is currently ranked 92 in the singles. She plays for the Florida state university team, that is ranked #6. So another good prospect to look forward to, if she decides to pursue tennis full time after finishing her senior year this year.

[sameerph]

Thanks, Dinesh. Had not paid attention to Nandini of late.

Today at least Manish and Arjun justify their seeding by coming thru in hard fought matches.

[R2] (6) Manish Sureshkumar (IND,666) d. Zsombor Velcz (HUN,1757) 36 76(5) 64

[R2] (7) Arjun Kadhe (IND,713) d. Dominik Palan (CZE,927) 16 76(4) 76(5)

When I saw the scores last time, Manish was down a break in second set too after losing the first set. So, good comebacks by Manish and Arjun.

Dev Javia is currently leading 5-2 against 4th seed Crawford. Can he pull out an upset here ?

[sameerph]

Dev gave back one of the 2 breaks he had but came thru to take the first set 6-4.

[jayakris]

Dev completely fell apart after the first set. 46 61 62 loss. I was really getting excited that another junior (19 yr old) player may be starting to take a next step, but that was not to be. But the first set is probably an indication that Dev is improving. I think he was a junior exempt entry here.

[sameerph]

Yes, at least this week some these guys are putting up a fight against higher ranked foreign players. So, we have only 2 left in the QF and both are playing British opponents in the QF.

[QF] (6) Manish Sureshkumar (IND,666) vs. (Q) Henry Patten (GBR,1187)

[QF] (7) Arjun Kadhe (IND,713) vs. (4) Oliver Crawford (GBR,576)

[Dinesh]

Oliver Crawford is an American but that’s not the point, the guy has beaten the likes of Nick Chappell, Zane Khan last year, so this will be a tough one for our new national hard court champion.

Manish should be winning matches like these against lower ranked players in later stages.

[PKBasu]

Great to see the comeback win for Arjun Kadhe. After the first set, I had given up in frustration but nice to see the new national hardcourt champion regain pride, dig deep and win. Manish, too, did well to fight back in the second set tiebreak after losing the first set. Better signs!