Nitten Kirrtane’s stellar performance in both singles and doubles matches propelled India to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Britain in the semifinals of the Fred Perry Cup over-50 event at the ITF Tennis Masters World Championship in Mexico.
India’s journey to the semifinals was marked by an unblemished record in the league phase. They emerged victorious against Canada, France, and Turkey, topping their group and securing a spot in the knockout stage. The key to India’s success was Nitten’s dominance in doubles, partnering with Ajit Sail.
In the crucial semifinal clash against Britain, India faced a stern challenge. Jagdish Tanwar gave India a strong start by defeating Paulo Freitas in a hard-fought three-set match. However, Nitten suffered a setback in the second singles, losing to Sebastian Jackson.
Undeterred, Nitten and Ajit Sail combined their skills to secure a decisive victory in the doubles. They outplayed Nick Adams and Jeffrey Hunter in a closely contested match, winning 7-6(5), 6-4.
India’s triumph sets up a tantalizing final against Italy, who overcame the Netherlands in the other semifinal. The Indian team will be aiming to cap off their impressive tournament with a gold medal.
