Chennai: Home sensation and wild card entrant Yuki Bhambri sprung a surprise on Tuesday by upsetting higher-rated Pablo Carreno Busta to enter the second round even as compatriot Somdev Devvarman made a shocking first round exit at the Chennai Open, here.
Yuki, ranked 195 in the world, took 76 minutes to stun 64th ranked Busta 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round to set up a clash against third seed Fablo Fognini in the pre-quarterfinals.
Yuki, in all probability, will make the quarterfinals without taking the court as his next opponent, Fogini, who was partnering Indian ace Leander Pace, has pulled out from the men’s doubles event due to a strain in his left leg.
A statement from the organisers read that Fogini has withdrawn from the doubles event due to a injury and he was being monitored by the doctors.
But it has been learnt that Fogini would take a call on his participation in the singles event by Wednesday evening.
However, it was turned out to be a nightmarish outing for Somdev as he was shown the door in the opening round by qualifier Ramanathan Ramkumar in a marathon 147-minute duel.
Somdev squandered a set lead to go down 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 against the less-fancied Ramkumar ranked 526 in the ATP circuit.
Somdev, who is the main man in the Indian Players Association, was full of praise for Ramkumar and said that the youngster deserves the win.
“Hope Ramkumar contuinues to work and do the right things and not get carried away as he has a bright future. He is a fantastic player. He played fabulous tennis and you got to give him credit. He played some high risk shots and succeeded,” he said.
Talking about the match, Somdev said: “It is never easy. It was disappointing to lose. I need to go back to the drawing board and start thinking about the next tournament.”
Ramkumar, on the other hand, said he was so nervous that he could not serve well at the start.
The other singles matches on the second day of the tournament went on expected lines as higher-rated players entered the second round.
Eduard Roger-Vasselin, a regular in Chennai and ranked 52, had little difficulty in disposing of Albert Ramos 6-1, 6-3, while Aljaz Bedene dropped the second set before getting the better of qualifier Hendri Laaksonen 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7). (PTI)
