New Delhi, April 22: India number one Nirupama Vaidyanathan outgunned Sai Jayalakshmi 6-3 6-2 in an all-Indian final employing her powerful serves and blistering returns to lift the ITF women's circuit tennis trophy here on Saturday.The scoreline though does not reveal the story about some intense rallies the two had with Nirupama facing tough time against the India No 3.``It was difficult to judge Sai as she was coming up with surprising returns during tough rallies but committed silly errors during easy ones,'' Nirupama said after the match.The Mumbai-leg champion Sai was under pressure to maintain her winning streak on these courts and also was looking to avenge her defeat to Nirupama when the two last met in 1995.But except for occasional flashes of brilliance, Sai could hardly trouble a super-fit Nirupama, who has just recovered from injury sustained during the Australian Open qualifiers in January.``I was very tired and she (Nirupama) made me run a lot. She was playing at very high level,'' Sai said.The two later clinched doubles trophy beating Rushmi Chakravarthi and Radhika Tulpule 6-4 6-2.Nirupama, winner against third seed Masa Vesenjak of Slovenia in the semi-finals yesterday, was the overwhelming favourite against Sai, who struggled against qualifier Maja Mlakar before winning in three sets.The opening was a shocker for Sai as Nirupama stretched her to deuce and eventually broke her. The top seed held her serve 2-0 and again took Sai the distance. After leading 40-0, Sai committed unforced errors allowing Nirupama to deuce the game before she managed to hold for 2-1.It was now Nirupama's turn to face some tense moments despite firing an ace and after she was taken to four deuces, Sai levelled the scores 2-2 when her opponent sent a return wide.The match looked heading for a thrilling finish when Sai blasted an ace to lead the set 3-2 for the only time in the final. Nirupama answered with an ace to draw parity and Sai double-faulted in the seventh before Nirupama stretched the lead 5-3 ending the long game with a whiplash smash.Gaining confidence with Sai showing effects of tiredness, Nirupama broke her at love in the ninth to pocket the set 6-3.The only Indian woman to finish among the top 200 in the 1999 WTA year end list, then reeled off five straight games, breaking Sai twice to race to 5-0 lead. Down but not out, Sai held her serve 5-1 and then took advantage of Nirupama's double-fault to narrow the lead 5-2.Nirupama did not let her concentration suffer after dropping the seventh game and completed Sai's agony with a backhand passing winner for 6-3, 6-2 verdict.
