James Duckworth wears crown at Bengaluru Open

TIL Desk Sports/ It took just 68 minutes for Australian fourth seed James Duckworth to stop the French Juggernaut Benjamin Bonzi to lift the US $162,500 Bengaluru Open title at the KSLTA Courts here on Sunday. Although the match lasted for only two sets, the spectators were treated to some fine attacking tennis seen in a long time in Bengaluru.

The evening began with an emotional farewell to Indian tennis legend Leander Paes and one expected the proceeding to follow suit of a somberness that preceded the match. Duckworth was coming with a reputation of having won 4 titles out of 6 final appearances, and was in fine form after having reached the last four of the ATP 250 in Pune last week.

His opponent Bonzi meanwhile had felled four seeds enroute to the final including India”s No.1 and defending champion Prajnesh Gunneswaran. So when the two talented men in form met on the court, it was fireworks all the way. “I was aware he had beaten some good players in this tournament. I was kind of prepared for this and luckily I played my best today,” said Duckworth.