DMG Delhi Crusaders, Paramount Proec Tigers, Meerut Stag Babloat Yoddhas and Gurgaon Sapphires registered victories on an action-packed opening day of the fourth season of the Pro Tennis League.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
To be played over four days at the RK Khanna Stadium here, the likes of two-time defending national tennis Niki Poonacha, former World No. 42 Malek Jaziri and former India No. 1 Ramkumar Ramanathan produced some scintillating tennis in a smash-and-grab format of tennis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the first leg, played in a round-robin format, DMG Delhi Crusaders triumphed over Lucknow Aviators (100-85); Paramount Proec Tigers beat Bangalore Challengers (104-81); 2018 champions Meerut Stag Babloat Yoddhas swept aside Jodhpur Sankara (101-84) and Gurgaon Sapphires produced a sensational comeback to beat Proveri Super Smashers (95-90).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the day matches, DMG Delhi Crusaders and Paramount Proec Tigers had no trouble in getting past Lucknow Aviators and Bangalore Challengers respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With all ties comprising nine matches and race to a collective 185 points, Lucknow Aviators remained close with DMG Delhi Crusaders for four matches before Niki Poonacha's convincing 19-11 win over Siddharth Vishwakarma bolstered their advantage by a massive eight points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The next match, in men's doubles, went N. Sriram Balaji and Adil Kalyanpur's way followed by a 15-15 tie between Poonacha\/Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and N Sriram Balaji\/Adil Kalyanpur, the organisers informed in a release on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the other court, Paramount Proec Tigers were even more lethal against Bangalore Challengers. They won six of nine matches with Siddharth Rawat and Farhat Aleen Qamar playing a crucial role. Zeeshan Ali, playing a match after 20 years, was also on the winning end.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the evening set of matches, opening season's winners Meerut Stag Babloat Yoddhas were off to a flier with wins for Denim Yadav, Ajay Malik\/Vijay Sundar Prashanth, Riya Sachdeva and Kashish Bhatia. On points, they led 48-27 to go to a commanding position.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yashaswini Panwar and Sathwika Sama broke the losing streak but won by a slender point margin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jodhpur Sankara's then won both their men's doubles matches, both featuring former Davis Cupper Divij Sharan and Parikshit Somani, to bring the deficit down which could play a role in their chances of qualifying for the semifinals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The best was saved for last with the tie between Proveri Super Smashers and Gurgaon Sapphires being decided in the men's doubles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Going into the final match, the 2019 champions Proveri Super Smashers led 79-76 and the onus was on VM Ranjeet and Tunisia's Malik Jaziri to help stage a miraculous win. On the other side of the net, Manish Sureshkumar and Parv Nage were handed the task to keep the points difference to a minimum - if not winning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The best was saved for last with the tie between Proveri Super Smashers and Gurgaon Sapphires being decided in the men's doubles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n