In a day filled with unexpected outcomes at the Gadre Marine MSLTA – ITF Junior Grade 3 U18 Tennis Championships, the top seed, Ivan Iutkin of Russia, faced a shocking defeat by Japan’s Hiromasa Koyama, who triumphed 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, securing a spot in the singles quarterfinals. Koyama’s victory marked one of six notable upsets in the tournament.
In another upset, French player Moise Kouame, seeded fifteenth, rallied from a 1-4 deficit to claim victory over third seed Rethin Pranav Senthil Kumar with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The intensity of the competition was evident, especially for Pranav, who appeared fatigued after a string of matches over 18 days.
Local wildcard entry Arnav Paparkar impressed the organizers by advancing to the quarterfinals with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 win against Dhiraj Reddy Vennapusa.
On the girls’ side, Ariana Gogulina from Kazakhstan secured a win against eighth seed Rishitha Reddy Basireddy with a score of 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (2). Amodini Naik delivered a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory against fifth seed Sohini Mohanty.
The surprising outcomes added an extra layer of excitement to the tournament, showcasing the unpredictable nature of junior tennis. Local fans were delighted by Arnav Paparkar’s stellar performance, proving that underdogs can shine on the big stage.
The multiple upsets highlight the fierce competition and unpredictability in junior tennis, making the tournament more compelling for both players and spectators.
