Chandrika Fernando Fifth seed Saajida Razick put up a pleasing performance to clinch the Girls’ Under-16 Singles title at the Clay Court Tennis Nationals, which continued at the SLTA Courts in Green Path, Colombo yesterday. Saajida, who came in to the

Fifth seed Saajida Razick put up a pleasing performance to clinch the Girls’ Under-16 Singles title at the Clay Court Tennis Nationals, which continued at the SLTA Courts in Green Path, Colombo yesterday.

Saajida, who came in to the reckoning from the bottom half of the tournament, delivered the final blow in style as she overcame the unseeded Ruwi Lewkebandara in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

Even then, Saajida was under tremendous pressure in the beginning as Ruwi, who had earlier toppled the top seed Tania Doloswala in the semi-finals, threatened to take the final in to a three setter.

However, Saajida successfully negotiated the early storm from her giant killing opponent and settled down beautifully before cruising to a convincing win in the end.

Meanwhile, the unseeded pair of Hasali Gajaba and Minuki Wanniarachchi created a major upset as they went on to bag the Girls’ Under-16 doubles title. Hasali and Minuki rallied around magnificently to overcome the more experienced top seed combination of Preethikaa Chandramohan and Tuvini de Alwis in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

In the Boys’ Under-14 Singles final, fifth seed Matheesha Nettasinghe put up a giant killing performance to beat the top seed Thilina Dissanayake 6-3, 10-5 after an exciting encounter.