CHENNAI OPEN | Indian challenge in singles comes to a shuddering halt

The Indian problem within the singles occasion on the Chennai Open ATP Challenger fizzled out with the exit of Sumit Nagal and Sidharth Rawat within the second spherical on the SDAT Tennis Stadium right here on Thursday.

The India No. 1 took the primary set towards Russian Petr Bar Biryukov and appeared on the right track for a routine win when he started to flounder. He let slip three break-points within the second set which allowed his opponent to remain afloat.

As soon as into the tie-break, the left-hander, ranked No. 305, used his large serve to good impact to push the match into the decider. Additionally, he raced to a 3-0 lead.

Sumit Nagal in motion on the Chennai Open ATP Challenger in Chennai on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score:
R. RAGU

Although Nagal fought again to degree at three-all, Biryukov earned the decisive break within the eighth recreation and held serve to seal a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 win in simply over two hours.

Earlier, Rawat went down 2-6, 3-6 to Maks Kasnikowski.

Within the doubles occasion, the Indo-Thai pairing of Niki Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro superior to the final 4 with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Lohithaksha Bathrinath and Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam. They may face the all-Indian pairing of S.D. Prajwal Dev and Nitin Sinha for a spot within the remaining.

The outcomes: Second spherical: Luca Castelnuovo (Sui) bt Oliver Crawford (GBr) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(5); Ilia Simakin bt Philip Sekulic (Aus) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(1); Frederico Ferreira Silva (Por) bt Duje Ajdukovic (Cro) 6-3, 6-4; Petr Bar Biryukov (Rus) bt Sumit Nagal 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3; Maks Kasnikowski (Pol) bt Sidharth Rawat 6-2, 6-3; Ioannis Xilas (Gre) bt Eric Vanshelboim (Ukr) 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles: Quarterfinals: Pruchya Isaro (Tha) & Niki Poonacha bt Lohithaksha Bathrinath & Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam 6-4, 6-1; Jay Clarke (GBr) & Mukund Sasikumar bt Siddhant Banthia & Saketh Myneni 7-5, 6-4; S.D. Prajwal Dev & Nitin Kumar Sinha bt Ishaque Eqbal & Manish Sureshkumar 4-6, 6-2, [10-8]; Felix Gill & Alastair Grey (GBr) bt Luca Castelnuovo (Sui) & Rio Noguchi (Jpn) 7-6(2), 7-6(5).