Nirupama campaign draws to Marosi end

Nirupama campaign draws to Marosi end
Kadambari Murali

New Delhi, Dec 17: Will she, won't she? This was probably the question uppermost in people's minds at the DTA complex today on two counts. First, when Nirupama Vaidyanathan was playing and clawing her way back into the semi-final against second seed Katalin Marosi, everyone wondered whether she would last the whole way. Second, when it was discovered that top seed Tathiana Garbin had pulled a thigh muscle while beating Rika Hiraki in the first semi-final, those few gathered were hoping she would be able to play the doubles final. She was partnering Nirupama.

The answer to both questions was no. Nirupama couldn't quite make the cut against Marosi, though she gave it her best shot. Marosi won 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3. Then she and Garbin conceded their doubles as Garbin couldn't risk further injury. Anti-climax. That's how the Indian chapter in the $25,000 women's circuit event ended.

The Indo-Italian duo conceded the doubles final when 2-5 down in the first set to Hiraki and Briton Lorna Woodroffe, as Garbin'sthigh could not take the strain. Nirupama began by breaking Marosi, but the Hungarian broke back next game. The two traded breaks again for 3-3 and then held till tie-break. Then Marosi, who had stayed back most of the set, moved in with a couple of great volleys and took the set.

But it should never be said that Nirupama didn't try. She mixed her shots well, and especially in the second set, kept the Hungarian on her toes. The second set saw five breaks of serve and finally went to the Indian. In the third, Nirupama just couldn't keep up the pace and went down 3-6.

Earlier in the first semi-final, Garbin beat Hiraki 6-3, 6-3, but it wasn't as easy as it seemed. Hiraki didn't give an inch, frustrating Garbin with incongruous-looking lobs that the top seed couldn't quite kill, that at one point Garbin just let out a screech. To Garbin's credit, she won, despite the 28-year-old Japanese's playing her ``best tennis of the week.'' Said Hiraki later, ``I played my best of the tournament, but she just hit ittoo deep.''

Incidentally, it should be mentioned that Garbin had to be taken to Nehru Stadium for treatment, as there was no one available to treat her thigh. There was someone around with what passed for a medical kit, but he was unable to say what was wrong with her thigh cramps, a pulled muscle or something else.