North doubles makes it quick, easy

Ranjan, Sastri help Knights triumph in state opener

By: Justin Feil
   Sinthu Ranjan and Natasha Sastri were done playing a lot faster than they expected Tuesday, but that’s happening more and more this season.
   The West Windsor-Plainsboro North first doubles tandem polished off their Allentown foes, 6-0, 6-1, in lightning fast time for the first of the Knights’ four wins in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group III state tournament.
   With the win, the seventh-seeded Knights improved to 7-3 and advanced to play second-seeded Princeton High in a match scheduled for Thursday. WW-P North stopped 10th-seeded Allentown despite having to move its singles lineup up one spot when first-singles Jackie Tseng could not play due to an ankle injury. That put a little more pressure on the singles that rose, and the doubles teams that remained together for the match.
   "At first, we weren’t very sure," Sastri said. "When we were warming up, they seemed to have strong strokes. Then when we started to play, we took control. They made many unforced errors.
   "It was pretty quick. I was pretty surprised myself. I was expecting an intense match. We were just on a roll."
   It’s been like that lately for Ranjan and Sastri. The two upset PHS’ first doubles team in the second round of the Mercer County Tournament last week.
   "Beating Princeton was definitely the highlight so far of this year," Ranjan said. "We went in and said, let’s give it our best. I think we played the best tennis we played all season. We actually took them on. Our coach said there were points in that match where he didn’t think any team would have been able to beat us. We were getting everything."
   Ranjan and Sastri would like to be able to bottle that performance and pull it out every match. The Knights duo has found a pretty good routine to their matches.
   "For us," Ranjan said, "the first game, even the first point, is important. We have to start fast. Once we get it going, we just go with it."
   It is the second year in which the two have been paired. Ranjan, a junior, is in her third year of playing first doubles, her second with Sastri.
   "We know exactly what to do," Ranjan said. "Freshman year, I played with Jackie. We got to states in doubles. That was a foundation and I could build off that last year and this year. All that together, it seems really good."
   Added Sastri, who is a sophomore: "We just have that chemistry. We get along with each other. We strategize really well. It helps us win matches. We’re just dominating like we usually do. I think both of us are meant to be playing together since we’re helping the team."
   The Knight team had to pull together Tuesday when Tseng, who they hoped would be better by Thursday, could not play. WW-P North did so to advance to the CJ III quarterfinals.
   "I felt my singles players could step up," said Knights head coach Albert Paulsson. "I had confidence in them. They did very well. Our first doubles team was really strong. They won in about 20 minutes, 6-0, 6-1."
   With a lineup that already had to deal with the graduation of four-year first singles player Jacqueline Wong, Paulsson likes that this year’s team has an experienced pairing at first doubles. It gives the team confidence going into every match.
   "Sinthu’s been one of our steady veteran players," Paulsson said. "She has it down to a science. Her awareness on the court is very, very strong. She has a good instinct out there. She knows where to put the ball and is a good partner. She uses her experience to help her partner, especially in tough situations.
   "She has the same partner she played with last year, Natasha Sastri," he added. "They had a good experience working together last year. They built on it nicely this year. They had some good success at the Mercer County Tournament."
   The Knights’ first doubles pairing is hoping to add even more accomplishments this year. With each match, they seem to be improving and strengthening as a team. Tuesday’s match showed how dominant they can be.
   "All my groundstrokes were working," Sastri said. "My forehand was really strong. And I was getting most of my serves in."
   Sastri goes back to the duo’s success at the MCT as a reason they’ve become so tough on opponents. The two always had the capability. Now they’re gaining the intangibles that make them hard to beat.
   "I gained a lot of confidence from counties," Sastri said. "I was very into it. I was hoping we could maybe win the Mercer County Tournament. Before we weren’t very sure we were going to win against Princeton. We knew their team was really strong. We were really happy to make it to the semis."
   Now, the two are trying to become the guaranteed point that Wong was last year for the Knights. With a 9-2 record they’ve been close.
   "Last year was different," Ranjan said. "It was her first year. We weren’t as strong. This year, we’ve definitely gotten better, individually and together. We dominate. We’re also more mature and able to understand each other better. We know what to do now."
   Added Sastri: "Last year, we were always guaranteed a win because Jackie was amazing. This year, we just have to work harder because we lost such a great player. We have to build our confidence. This year has been going very well."
   Tuesday’s win helped all the Knight players feel good about their performances. Alma Chang moved up to win at first singles, Caroline Chang moved up and won at second singles and the doubles teams swept.
   "The feeling is definitely optimistic," Paulsson said. "It was a good confidence builder for the team. We know we have a tough match on our hands against Princeton on Thursday. We have had some positive experiences with them. Our first doubles beat theirs at the Mercer County Tournament. Hopefully that helps them feel confident."
   Ranjan and Sastri certainly have an air of confidence about them now in their second season together. They’ve formed one of the best teams in the area, one that is tough to beat in a regular-season match, or in a state match. Allentown was just the latest team to find that out in the state opening match.
   "It was pretty fast," Ranjan said. "I know the other team was getting pretty upset about it. I was just as surprised. I was getting a little psyched out in the warm-ups. They were hitting good shots. But then we got started."
   They started fast, and finished faster, something that’s helped Sinthu Ranjan and Natasha Sastri put together quite a promising season.