Ramkumar Ramanathan in motion towards Luca Nardi within the Bengaluru Open on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: Sudhakara Jain
India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan despatched high seed Luca Nardi packing 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to enter the singles quarterfinal of the dafaNews Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger, on 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 didn’t face a single break-point.
However the climate — a sweltering 33 °C courtside at midday — quickly introduced the gamers nearer. Nardi, who had reached the ultimate in Chennai final week and had additionally performed an extended three-setter on Tuesday, struggled whilst Ramkumar’s superior vitality ranges and a gentle exhibition of tennis carried the day.
Ramkumar’s purple patch started along with his first authoritative maintain of the afternoon — to 2-2 within the second set. Within the subsequent sport, he reduce by means of, as Nardi’s serve wobbled and the Italian double-faulted on break-point. The 29-year-old Indian took care of his serve properly to stage the competition.
Ramkumar Ramanathan in motion towards Luca Nardi within the Bengaluru Open on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
| Picture Credit score:
Sudhakara Jain
Nardi’s service sport picked up steam within the third set, and the gulf at school between the extremely rated 20-year-old and Ramkumar began displaying once more. However the latter displayed superior endurance as he ran down each single ball and compelled Nardi to go the additional mile.
The purpose that most likely sapped Nardi’s spirit was the straightforward smash from the forecourt he despatched lengthy to get damaged within the fifth sport. The top appeared nigh and Ramkumar quickly had his second consecutive Challenger predominant draw singles match win, a primary since November 2022 (Kobe, Japan).
Different 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.
