Ramkumar Ramanathan in motion in opposition to Luca Nardi in the Bengaluru Open on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain
Indiaâs Ramkumar Ramanathan despatched prime seed Luca Nardi packing 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to enter the singles quarterfinal of the dafaNews Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger, at the KSLTA courts inside Cubbon Park right here on Wednesday.
Nardi performed a splendid first set, replete with aggressive returns and short-angled winners. The World No. 108 landed 86% of his first serves, received 92% of these factors and didnât face a single break-point.
But the climate â a sweltering 33 °C courtside at midday â quickly introduced the gamers nearer. Nardi, who had reached the last in Chennai final week and had additionally performed a protracted three-setter on Tuesday, struggled whilst Ramkumarâs superior power ranges and a gentle exhibition of tennis carried the day.
Ramkumarâs purple patch started with his first authoritative maintain of the afternoon â to 2-2 in the second set. In the subsequent recreation, he lower by means of, as Nardiâs serve wobbled and the Italian double-faulted on break-point. The 29-year-old Indian took care of his serve nicely to degree the contest.
Ramkumar Ramanathan in motion in opposition to Luca Nardi in the Bengaluru Open on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
Sudhakara Jain
Nardiâs service recreation picked up steam in the third set, and the gulf at school between the extremely rated 20-year-old and Ramkumar began displaying once more. But the latter displayed superior endurance as he ran down each single ball and compelled Nardi to go the further mile.
The level that in all probability sapped Nardiâs spirit was the straightforward smash from the forecourt he despatched lengthy to get damaged in the fifth recreation. The finish appeared nigh and Ramkumar quickly had his second consecutive Challenger primary draw singles match win, a primary since November 2022 (Kobe, Japan).
Other outcomes: Singles: Second spherical: Seong Chan Hong (Kor) bt Alexey Zakharov (Rus) 6-4, 7-5; Oriol Roca Batalla (Spa) bt Tristan Boyer (USA) 7-5, 6-3; Maks Kasnikowski (Pol) bt Benjamin Bonzi (Fra) 6-3, 6-4. First spherical: Stefano Napolitano (Ita) bt Dane Sweeny (Aus) 6-3, 6-3; Adam Walton (Aus) bt S.D. Prajwal Dev 6-3, 6-0.
Doubles: First spherical: Myneni & Ramkumar bt Banthia & Prajwal Dev 6-0, 7-6(2); Echargui (Tun) & Roca Batalla (Spa) bt Bollipalli & Poonacha 6-4, 6-4.
