NEW DELHI: Arjun Kadhe, who is back to Pro circuit after completing his degree course at the University of Oklahoma, literally toyed with sixth seed Jatin Dahiya in an impressive first-round win at the Fenesta National Tennis Championships, here today.
Kadhe, who returned to India in August, after spending close to four years in the US Collegiate circuit, thrashed Delhi's Dahiya 6-1 6-1 at the DLTA Complex.
Using his good height, Kadhe got the ball to kick on his serves even as he did not need his A game to outplay Dahiya, who struggled to put the ball inside the court.
Dahiya not only served poorly but also lacked sting in his strokes to trouble Kadhe. The Delhi boy won only six points on his serve in the first set, allowing a confident Kadhe to even experiment a few risky shots.
"It looks easy but I had to be on top of my game. One point here and there and it allows the other player to find a window," said Kadhe, who got a degree in the Business Management and Marketing.
Kadhe, 23, said playing on the US College circuit has helped him become fitter both physically and mentally.
"My technique was never a problem, I just worked with a few amazing people with unbelievable facilities. We were six to seven people training together. We always pushed each other on the fitness front. The physios, the doctors, icebath was available all the time and the program was also good.
"I played a lot of competitive matches and it made a big impact on my game. Since I played for a team, it was like Davis Cup atmosphere. I learnt to soak in the pressure,"
Pune-based Kadhe said counting on the positives of his stay in the US.
With his impressive record of 76 singles wins and 113 doubles win, Kadhe's picture now adorns the Oklahoma University's Hall of Fame.
He is only the second tennis player to get this honour after Kazakh Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
"When I had started playing for my University, it was ranked outside 25, in my second year we moved up to top-20 in third year we were top-15 and now it's top-5," Kadhe, who trains with Hemant Bendrey, said highlighting the impact he had made in University's consistent success.
Also advancing to the men's singles second round was talented Bengal boy Nitin Kumar Sinha, who outslugged Vignesh Peranamallur 1-6 6-2 6-1.
Punjab's Paramveer Singh Bajwa defeated Haryana's Yuvraj Singh 6-2 6-4 while 2013 champion Mohit Mayur Jayapraksh beat Anirudh Chandrasekar 6-3 6-1.
In the Under-18 boys singles, Rhythm Malhotra advanced to the pre-quarterfinals a 6-4 0-6 6-2 win over Theyjo Oges.
"Theyjo is a smart player. Rhythm was not able to handle Thejo's forehand slices which were keeping very low on court.
her has to play better in next match," said Rhythm's coach and former national champion Ashutosh Singh.
Fardeen Qumar, who hails from Jaipur, rallied to beat Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli 6-7(2) 6-4 6-2 to reach the prequarter-finals.