It was a one-way street all the way. Germany's Bjorn Phau stood a foot from the baseline and let rip one sizzling stroke after other. Karan Rastogi, huffed and scampered, tried desperately but had no answer to Phau's power.
In the opening match of the first ATP event in Mumbai, Phau, world number 66, thumped local boy Rastogi 6-0, 6-3 in the first round to send the Indian wild-card entrant crashing from the Kingfisher Airlines Open tennis tournament at the Cricket Club of India on Monday.
"It was one of the days when you feel the ball well," said the 26-year-old Phau, who impressed the sparse evening crowd with his court coverage and a single-handed backhand.
"I have quick legs but am still working on my speed and co-ordination. I like to play the backhand, it is one of my better shots."
Phau, also possessing a solid serve, didn't give Rastogi a single break point in the match.
Rastogi recovered some what from the mauling in the first set and fought hard in the second.
"I was a little rattled after the first set, 0-6 is not how you want to start a match," said the 20-year-old. "I tried hard in the second but he just didn't let go. He kept raising his game while I was a little up and down. It's not the best tennis I have played, which ideally I should have."
He won the first game of the second set on serve, outhitting the German in two long rallies, hitting a superb backhand pass on game point and let out a scream, but Phau's response was uncannily cool. He powered four aces in a row for 1-1 and went on to break Rastogi's serve in the next game.
The Mumbai player tried to match Phau on the baseline, but looked in trouble every time he came to the net and missed some easy volleys.
"I am working on my volley. I won't say I am 100 per cent comfortable at the net but it's better than before. The more matches I play at this level the better I am going to be comfortable at the net," he added.
Rastogi saved two break points in the fifth and seventh game of the second set but lost his serve on 3-5 down. He sent a backhand wide to hand Phau victory in the tournament opener.
Phau had won 6-2, 6-4 the last time the two players had met, in the first round qualifiers at Rotterdam.
Though Rastogi admitted that his game has not improved as rapidly as Phau's since their last meeting he is happy with the experience and said it is a matter of getting more games at this level under his belt to gauge his standing.
