Duckworth seals comeback win

Duckworth seals comeback win

PUNE: After a week of intense action on the courts at the Balewadi Sports Complex in the KPIT MSLTA Challenger event here in Pune, Australian James Duckworth emerged victorious against Great Britain’s Jay Clarke 4-6 6-4 6-4 in a final that went down to the wire. 

Duckworth started in much better fashion as compared to his semi-final against Ramkumar Ramanathan, dropping just one point in his opening two service games, and breaking Clarke for a 3-0 lead. In another nervy game on serve, Clarke squandered a 40-0 lead, but brushed aside all nerves to save a crucial break point and hold on. Clarke used that bit of momentum and made most of a couple of errors from Duckworth to break back for 2-3. Duckworth continued to pile the pressure on Clarke’s serve, but the Brit was equal to the task, saving two more break points in the next game and holding on to get to level terms. Duckworth found himself under pressure next game but saved a break point to hold.

At 4-4 in the ninth game, the British player won a brilliant first rally with a volley put-away that got the crowd excited, and then carried that momentum to find another break point. He made no mistake this time, converting with an accurate forehand pass to get the chance to serve out the set.

The first point of the next game saw what was probably one of the shots of the tournament, as Duckworth played a delicate drop volley at the net that that bounced into Clarke’s side of the court and spun right back into his own. 

Duckworth made it tricky for Clarke to serve out the set, saving a couple of set points in the process, but Clarke played the big points well, saving a break point in that game, to finally clinch the first set 6-4 with an ace, in just under an hour.

The first break point of the second set arrived in the fourth game that was saved by Clarke to stay on serve. What followed was a real test of Duckworth’s character, in a game where he saved four break points, including coming back from 0-40 down with a couple of clean winners, to keep himself in the contest.

Both players then served big over the next four games, with just one point going against the server.

At 4-5, the pressure of serving to stay in the set eventually got to Clarke, who squandered a 40-15 lead, before Duckworth hit a delightful forehand winner down the line to win the set on his second set point, and take the final into a deciding set.

NERVES OF STEEL
The final set saw another serve fest for the first six games with only three points against the server, before the drama began. Clarke drew first blood, breaking Duckworth on his third opportunity in the game with a huge forehand winner.

Duckworth showed he is not one to back down, breaking right back, with a bit of luck on his side on break point, as the ball clipped the top of the net.

He forced Clarke to serve to stay in the match at 4-5, and the Aussie showed nerves of steel and some impressive play to seal the match with another scorching backhand winner on his first championship point. It was an emotional moment for Duckworth, who was in tears after the tense win on Center Court.

The Aussie won his fourth challenger this year, and breaks into the top 100 in the world, courtesy of the 80 points he gains with the Pune title. He also pockets 7200 USD with the win, while Clarke gets 4240 USD for finishing as runner-up.

“I was extremely nervous today. I knew that there was quite a bit on the line. I knew if I won was in the top 100 and I was in the main draw of the Australian Open without a wildcard. I just really tried to focus on playing positive tennis, just being aggressive and eventually it would pay off. I got a bit lucky, got a bit unlucky, but I think just having the mindset of playing positive, aggressive, coming forward, got me the win,” said Duckworth after lifting the trophy.

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