Going full stretch: Hong prevailed over Ramkumar in a match that witnessed high quality tennis.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Ramkumar Ramanathan put up a spirited struggle earlier than shedding 5-7, 7-5, 4-6 to South Korea’s Seongchan Hong in the singles quarterfinal of the dafaNews Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger on the KSLTA courts inside Cubbon Park right here on Friday.
Capricious for many half, the match noticed some high quality tennis, with each gamers attacking with aplomb. But it was additionally marked by Ramkumar’s repeated run-ins with the chair umpire in the third set, due to which he seemingly misplaced focus and withered away. Hong broke Ramkumar’s serve in the primary recreation of the competition, however the Indian evened issues in the tenth. The crosscourt forehand winner Ramkumar hit on break-point with little or no room to work with was indicative of his aggressive temper.
But he acquired a tad overambitious and that value him as he misplaced serve to like in the eleventh recreation and ceded the set quickly after.
With his tail up, Hong made the play in the ninth recreation of the second stanza, however Ramkumar sliced and diced his means out of hassle and saved all 4 break-points.
But when Hong served at 5-6, Ramkumar transformed the primary break alternative to stage the tie. However, at 30-all in the primary recreation of the third set, Ramkumar misplaced his cool over a line name that went towards him.
On the following break-point, he double-faulted.
From then on, he remonstrated to no finish and even when he earned a break-point in the sixth recreation, the match by no means appeared his.
Later in the night, India No.1 Sumit Nagal introduced again the cheer on the supporters’ faces with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Adam Walton to maneuver into the final 4.
Other outcomes (Indians until specified): Singles: Quarterfinals: Stefano Napolitano (Ita) bt Moez Echargui (Tun) 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4; Oriol Roca Batalla (Spa) bt Maks Kasnikowski (Pol) 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5.
Doubles: Semifinals: Bittoun Kouzmine & Janvier (Fra) bt Matuszewski (Pol) & Romios (Aus) 6-3, 3-6, [10-6]. Myneni & Ramkumar bt Alcantara (Phi) & Uchida (Jpn) 6-2, 2-6, [10-7]..
