Downingtown East’s Abhiraj Srivastava wins Ches-Mont National singles title

West Chester >> The Ches-Mont National Division Singles Tournament is a test of endurance, and the four players who competed in Friday’s semifinals and finals can attest to that – three of the day’s four matches went to three sets.
Downingtown East junior Abhiraj Srivastava endured it best, capturing his second consecutive Ches-Mont National singles title by beating West Chester East freshman Ben Gao in the championship final, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, at West Chester Henderson High School.
“Abhiraj is the best returner in the league by far,” said Downingtown East coach Chris Waychunas. “It’s very rare to win this title two years in a row, but Abhiraj has been a leader of our team since his freshman year. He’s fluid, his return of serve is really good and he has a good sense of who he is as a player.”
Srivastava battled Avon Grove senior Joe Yarbrough in the semifinals for a 7-5, 6-2 victory before advancing to the finals against Gao.
“I was keeping it consistent, getting a lot of topspin and finishing the points at the net,” said a happy Srivastava following the championship final. “I had never played [Gao] before, so it took me awhile to adjust to his style of play. My net play was good today.”
For Gao to get to the finals, he had to defeat the top seed in the bracket, Downingtown East freshman Shrihan Madam, in a grueling three-hour semifinal, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The lead went back-and-forth several times in the third set before Gao finally prevailed.
“Ben told me that his motto in the third set [against Madam] was, ‘Stay calm, stay calm,’” said West Chester East coach Mike Orenshaw. “Ben has done amazingly well for a freshman, and he was so composed for those five hours on the court today, you would never know that he was tired.”
Gao was suffering with a blistered right foot in the opening round of the tournament Thursday (three rounds were played on that day).
“Ben thought he might not make it through the first match, but then the blister popped halfway through his first set, he got it wrapped, and he won in two sets, 6-1, 6-0,” said Orenshaw.
In the third place match (the top three finishers in this tourney automatically qualify for berths in the District 1 singles tournament), Madam defeated Yarbrough, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
“Shrihan has a great forehand – he can take over a match with it,” noted Waychunas.
Yarbrough, who gave both of his opponents a tough battle Friday, finished fourth, and can still receive a berth in the district singles tournament as a wildcard. Earlier this spring, Yarbrough defeated both Gao and Unionville’s Andrew Ou, the top seed in the Ches-Mont American Division singles tournament.
Also on Friday, the opening rounds of the Ches-Mont American Division singles tournament were played, and four players advanced to Saturday’s championship semifinals – Unionville’s Andrew Ou and Andrew Poprik, and Great Valley’s Krish Mendiratta and Vivek Arvind. Poprik was seeded second in this tournament, Mediratta third and Arvind fifth. Arvind defeated Unionville’s Matt Miller, the fourth seed, in a three-set quarterfinal to advance to the semifinals. On Saturday, Arvind will face Ou, and Mendiratta will play Poprik in the championship semifinals, with the finals to be held later in the day.