From The Hindu Archives, March 16, 1976: Vijay Amritraj claims two titles: Smith beaten in final

Memphis, Tennessee, March 15: India’s Vijay Amritraj dominated the championship match of the World Championship Tennis $60,000 Memphis Club classic yesterday defeating Stan Smith of the United States 6-2,0-6,6-0.

The 22-year-old right hander picked up $17,000.

Amritraj broke Smith’s service in the second, sixth and eighth games of the first set and claimed it at 6-2.

Smith double faulted on his first two points of the second game and had repeated trouble with his serve.

“I thought the key to the match was Stan’s inability to serve,” said Amritraj who was unseeded in a field that also included B. Borg B. Lutz, J.D. Newcome, A.J. Roche, and R. Tanner. “He was awful to serve, while I seemed to be returning his serves better than I usually do.”

Amritraj swept through the first set with a baseline game which provided winners. He was true on his backhand in crucial situations. “My backhand was good to-day,” he said.

Amritraj seemed to lose concentration in the second set as the 29-year-old Smith broke service in the first, third and fifth game on the way to set victory.

In the final set, Amritraj however returned to form and swept through the set in no time.