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Bopanna-Nestor defeat Rojer-Horia to clinch Apia International
Sydney: Indo-Canadian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Daniel Nestor today defeated the team of Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer and Romanian Tecau 6-4, 7-6 (5) to win Apia International tennis tournament.
The match was closely fought as both teams found it difficult to their opponents’ serve in the initial stages. But the Indo-Canadian pair was able to sneak ahead at the crucial juncture of the contest, breaking their opponents’ fifth service game to claim the first set 6-4.
The second set proceedings were similar to the opening set with both teams holding onto their serves and it required a tie-break to determine the winner of the second set.
The Indo-Canadian pair edged the tie-break 7-5 to clinch the set and the contest in 85 minutes.
“We played a few tournaments at the end of last year to prepare for this year as well as we could and things didn’t go as well, but I think right now we’re clicking,” said Nestor.
“I enjoy playing with Rohan, he’s a big hitter, he serves great, and he’s one of those guys who’s really intimidating to play against so I’d rather be on the same side as him as opposed to playing against him.
We beat some pretty good teams here (in Sydney) so we’re playing well. Hopefully we can carry it on to the Australian Open.”
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.