Pune, December 31: Sumit Nagal fought hard before beating Spain's Adrian Menendez-Maceiras to make the main draw of the Tata Open Maharashtra at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Sunday (December 31).
The 20-year-old Nagal defeated the Spaniard 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in a nip-and-tuck encounter.
Singles Qualifiers 2nd Round -
— Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) December 31, 2017
Court 1: India's @nagalsumit storms into the main draw of the Men's Singles after putting up a great show against Adrian Menendez-Maceiras (6-2, 3-6, 6-4).#AdvantagePune #TataOpenMaharashtra #Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/LgM7mBJbD0
The match saw world no. 223 Nagal start on the front foot as he looked in good touch. However, Menendez-Maceiras bounced back in the second set to take the match into the decider. In the third set, both players produced a fight but it was the 20-year-old youngster from India who crossed the finish line.
The win for the 20-year-old Nagal means that he will be playing fellow qualifier Ilya Ivashka in the first round of the tournament starting on January 1, 2018.
Speaking after making his way through, Nagal said: "I am very happy to have qualified for the main draw Maharashtra Open and I am looking forward to my first round match against Ivashka. It will be an interesting tie but I am confident that I can do well against him and advance to the latter stages of the tournament."
Singles Qualifiers 2nd Round -
— Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) December 31, 2017
Court 2: @RikiOjeda sails smoothly into the main draw of the Men's Singles after defeating (6-3, 6-4) Joao Souza in straights sets.#AdvantagePune #TataOpenMaharashtra #Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/c60OUwgoJx
Also qualifying to the main draw were Ilya Ivashka, Ricardo Ojeda Lara and Thiago Monteiro.
Ivashka made it through after beating Spain's Carlos Taberner in straight sets 6-3, 6-2, in a match which lasted just over an hour. The 23-year-old Belarusian utilised his serve to great effect hitting 12 aces, seven of which came in the first set itself. The second set saw a similar story as the Spaniard failed to make good returns allowing Ivashka to run away with a straight sets win.
Ricardo Ojeda Lara produced his best tennis to beat Brazil's Joao Souza in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The match saw Spaniard play some consistent tennis to knock out the 29-year-old Brazilian. However, it was due to the Spaniard's consistent play in both the sets that even an experienced player like Souza failed to make an impact.
The players are all exhilarated to be a part of the maiden #TataOpenMaharashtra. 🙌
— Tata Open Maharashtra (@MaharashtraOpen) December 31, 2017
Hope they all begin their 2⃣0⃣1⃣8⃣ on a smashing note in Pune! 😍#AdvantagePune #ATP250 #ATP #Tennis pic.twitter.com/6bg1JKvpPV
In the fourth and final game of the day, it was Brazil's Thiago Monteiro who beat Prajnesh Gunneswaran from India in straight sets 7-5, 7-5. Gunneswaran started the match brightly and looked set to win the first set, but Monteiro's speed meant that the Indian lost the match in straight sets giving the Brazilian a place in the main draw.
RESULTS
Qualifying Singles - Second Round
T Monteiro (BRA) bt P Gunneswaran (IND) 7-5, 7-5
S Nagal (IND) bt A Menendez-Maceiras (ESP) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
I Ivashka (BLR) bt C Taberner (ESP) 6-3, 6-2
R Ojeda Lara (ESP) bt J Souza (BRA) 6-3, 6-4
Source: Press release
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