Ramanathan, Ankita national grasscourt champs

Promising Chennai youngster Ramkumar Ramanathan and women's top seed Ankita Raina became the new champions with easy wins in the respective finals of the National grasscourt tennis championships, here today. The sixth seeded 18-year-old Ramanathan thrashed local lad Saurav Sukul 6-2 6-1 in a completely one-sided affair. Sukul, who had given a flicker of hope of becoming the first national champion from Bengal in 13 years, could not stand up to Ramanathan. Sukul looked more and more tired as the match progressed and Ramanathan wrapped up the issue without much fuss. Ramanathan had emerged the Junior National champion in 2009 and 2010. He currently trains at the Sanchez Casal Academy in Spain. It was a one-sided affair in the women's section as well, Ankita proved too strong for Goa's Natasha Palha with a 6-1 6-2 win. Bengal tasted success in the women's doubles as Treta Bhattacharya, partnering Palha, beat the top seeded pair of Rushmi Chakravarthi and Ankita 4-6 6-1 10-8. Results (all finals) Men's Singles: Ramkumar Ramanathan (TN) b Saurav Sukul (WB) 6-2 6-1. Women's Singles: Ankita Raina (Guj) b Natasha Palha (Goa) 6-1 6-2; Doubles: Treta Bhattacharya (WB)/ Palha b Rushmi Chakravarthi (TN)/ Raina 4-6 6-1 10-8.