Wednesday, Oct 23, 2002 - NILANJAN DATTA

NEW DELHI: American tennis star, late Vitas Gerulaitis, once said: "If a player has a big serve, his job is half done." At the DSCL National tennis championship, Viplav Anjan showed why.

The youngster's huge serve shook reigning national champion Vijay Kannan in the men's singles first round. But only a little bit. Viplav's game was half-baked almost everywhere else. He unabashedly committed more unforced errors than Kannan was required to dig into his deft placements and forehand crosscourt winners.

As the sun broke through the thin haze at the DLTA, Viplav's prodigality deprived Kannan of any early morning workout. Kannan won 6-4, 6-3.

On the adjacent court, a focussed Vasudevan Reddy, "a veteran" by his own admission, taught a lesson in basics to Jaco Mathew, the former junior champion. Mathew is considered a fine prospect by many. Reddy attacked net and winners flew past Mathew. Reddy was surprised that Mathew "did not use his forehand more often."

Reddy, who takes on National Games champion Ajay Ramaswamy in the second round, added: "I was confident of winning and I am only enjoying my game." The day also witnessed a sweet homecoming for Pune lad Santanu Dhaka. Presently training at the Hilton Head Academy in Boston under Stan Smith, Dhaka breezed past localite Nishank Mishra 6-0, 6-2 on court no. 8. "I have taken a year off from college and am back in India after nine years," the first year student informed.

Dhaka looked composed, his lethal forehand already being the talking point among onlookers. His second round duel with Nitin Kirtane should be a great contest.

Men (singles): Kamal Kannan b Ravikrishna Palivella 6-2, 6-1; Saurav Panja b Shivang Mishra 6-2, 6-3; Vijay Kannan b Anjan Viplav 6-4, 6-3; Vasudev Reddy b Jaco Mathew 6-1, 6-4; M Ghouse b Ritesh Chitlanga 6-1, 6-2; Shantanu Dhaka b Nishank Mishra 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Boys U-18: Somdev Verman b Abay Prakash 6-2, 5-7, 6-3; Inder Kumar b J Jayanth 6-1, 4-6, 7-6; T Liberhan b D Bhusari 7-6, 6-2.

Women: Ankita Bhambri b Parul Goswami 6-0, 6-2; Isha Lakhani b Priyanka Parekh 6-1, 6-1; T Yamini b Preeti Shravan 6-3, 6-2; Geeta Manohar b Aishwarya yadav 6-0, 6-1.

Girls U-18: Poonam Reddy b M Kamini 6-2, 3-6, 7-5; L Assudani b M Sharma 6-2, 6-1; A Alice b V Shivshankar 6-2, 6-1; P Pachkawade b G Monica 6-4, 2-6, 7-6.