The two Indian Davis Cuppers, the other being Prahlad Srinath, played a semi-final that looked like a major final when ball was in play and like a practice session between points for two and half hours. Fazaluddin came back from behind, won 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 to score his third successive win over the other at the G A Ranade Tennis Centre today. He will play second seed Artem Derepasko, whose opponent Mohammed Khaliq (Pak) could not play his semi-final due to injury.

Sandeep and Nitin Kirtane won their fifth Satellite double title, second in two weeks, defeating Fazaluddin and Ashley Ford 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Three crackling shots, a backhand bisecting the two opponents, a overhead-smash-lob combination and then a forehand similar to the first one gave the Kirtanes three break points. Nitin's backhandvolley fetched them that and put them ahead 4-2.

Though they had a match point at 5-3 with Ford serving, the delay did no damage. Nitin served out the match after Ford put Sandeep's volley into the net.

FAZAL FIRES: Following the advice he received from coach Andrew Sorrentino during his last visit to the US, Fazaluddin stepped on the aggression that helped him come out of a one set, 2-4 deficit.

Srinath dropped five break points in the first set itself after losing his serve in the first game, in which Fazaluddin returned serve with vengeance. Though he equalled at 2-2, Fazaluddin moved 5-3. Equal again at 6-6 and the contest looked set to explode.

Srinath blasted eight backhand winners in the set, none of them in the tie-breaker, but won it anyway at 7-3.

Shots flowed, tempers rose but were just as quickly put out with jokes and grins as the match kept changing in frequency and mood. The camaraderie was entertaining even if both tried to psyche the other out at times. Srinath even receiveda code violation warning for unsportsman-like conduct, his first in career, but by then much damage had been done.

Results

Men's singles semi-finals: Syed Fazaluddin (Ind) bt Prahlad Srinath (Ind) 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2; Artem Derepasko (Rus) w/o Mohammed Khaliq (Pak).

Men's doubes (final): Sandeep/Nitin Kirtane bt Syed Fazaluddin/Ashley Ford 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.