Last year, Praneel Mallaiah was eliminated in the semifinals of the District 2 Class 3A boys tennis singles tournament, and this year he was eager to regain the top position.
He achieved this without losing a set throughout the week. He secured his second Class 3A singles title in three years by beating Michael Hamel of Wilkes-Barre Area 6-3, 7-5 at Kirby Park on Wednesday.
Mallaiah has been the top seed in the Class 3A field for three consecutive years. Despite a tough experience in 2023, the top singles player for Abington Heights demonstrated why he has been successful in Class 3A over the years.
Mallaiah stated, “I knew I had to work hard during the summer and the season. Being more strategic on the court helped me win today.”
This year’s final, Mallaiah and Hamel, was a rematch of the 2022 District 2 championship match, where Mallaiah defeated Hamel 6-3, 6-0 to win the championship.
Hamel, competing in his fourth consecutive District 2 title match this year, proved to be a formidable opponent for Mallaiah, but the outcome mirrored that of 2022.
Mallaiah claimed victory in both hard-fought sets, winning the first 6-3 and coming from behind in the second to win 7-5 and secure the district title.
Mallaiah remarked, “It was certainly a great match between Michael and me. His serve was exceptional. … Ultimately, I was able to adjust my approach, play more intelligently and cautiously, allowing me to stage a comeback.”
The 3A semifinal matches were notably different from their 2A counterparts. The 3A semis were relatively quiet, with the top seeds prevailing.
Hamel was the first semifinal winner to advance, defeating Abington Heights’ William Arp 6-3, 6-2, and securing his fourth consecutive district championship match.
Shortly after, Mallaiah secured his place in the finals by defeating Delaware Valley’s Alex Mullen 6-2, 6-1.
Hamel concluded his Wolfpack singles career with four District 2 Class 3A silver medals, never missing a district final in his varsity career at Wilkes-Barre Area.
Mallaiah will move on to Hershey for the first round of the PIAA Class 3A singles tournament on May 24, with his opponent yet to be determined. In 2022, Mallaiah was eliminated by North Allegheny’s Trey Davidson in the first round of the state tournament.
District 2 Class 3A Boys Tennis Singles Championships
Praneel Mallaiah (Abington Heights) def. Michael Hamel (Wilkes-Barre Area) 6-3, 7-5.
Class 3A Semifinals
Praneel Mallaiah (Abington Heights) def. Alex Mullen (Delaware Valley) 6-2, 6-1; Michael Hamel (Wilkes-Barre Area) def. William Arp (Abington Heights) 6-3, 6-2.
