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An Indian junior tennis player studying in the United States has won the NCAA championship -- the blue ribbon title for collegiates -- joining a scroll of winners that includes John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. Somdev Devvarman, a University of Virginia junior, pounded out a 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(2) win over Georgia's John Isner to become the first Indian-American to win the NCAA title.
The three-set epic, which Devvarman won without breaking the 6 foot 10 inch Isner's serve, was described as one of the most dramatic finals in the 123-year history of the tournament that has produced several Grand Slam winners including Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe, in addition to Connors and McEnroe.
Devvarman's win came at Isner's home court in front of Georgia fans. He had earlier beaten Isner in the team championship clash too.
Devvarman was seeded second this year after top seed Isner, being an NCAA runner-up in 2006, when he was ranked No.8 nationally. The 22-year-old Chennai native was ranked No. 1 in India in junior singles and doubles before coming to the US for undergraduate studies.
Devvarman's coach Brian Boland said he had improved rapidly over the past two years and become a much more aggressive player from the time he had arrived from India. He described him as one of the toughest players mentally that he had coached.
The UVA student is a year short of the pro-circuit. He said he will be returning to school for his senior year.
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