Yuki Bhambri overcomes groin strain to oust Sriram Balaji, Ramkumar fights back

Yuki Bhambri returns to Sriram Balaji during his first-round match at the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger on Tuesday

Bengaluru, November 21: Yuki Bhambri of India brushed off a groin concern to oust compatriot N Sriram Balaji 6-3, 6-3 in their first-round match of the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger at the KSLTA Courts on Tuesday (November 21).

Third seed Bhambri, fresh off his title at the KPIT MSLTA Challenger in Pune, started off strong against Balaji, a wildcard entrant in the event. He broke Balaji in the first game itself but that was mainly due to Balaji's two double faults. In the third game, he held his groin in pain for a moment but continued to push. He lost that game but returned to take a 3-1 lead with a teasing backhand return to the left of the charging Balaji.

Balaji later went on to save two set points with his big serve. However, he was guilty of committing another double fault, which handed Bhambri the advantage at 5-3. Bhambri played a strong return to seize the first set in 42 minutes.

That's when Bhambri took medical help to take care of his injury. He had his thigh area strapped tight and struggled to find his touch again.

Although he broke Balaji's serve in the second game, it could have all gone wrong for Bhambri the next game. He committed an unforced error and sent a spare ball flying out in frustration. Balaji capitalised on Bhambri's loss of focus and broke him to make it 1-2.

Bhambri slowly regained focus and at 3-2, he broke Balaji's serve again. Balaji again committed a double fault while being 30-0 up and Bhambri capitalised on it. Although Balaji saved a break point after Bhambri had the advantage, he then played a sliced shot right into the net. Bhambri then won the next point as Balaji dropped his racquet in frustration.

It was then a formality as Bhambri completed the proceedings in a total of one hour and 25 minutes. He will next face Pedro Martinez of Spain, who beat Naoki Nagakawa of Japan 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Later, Ramkumar Ramanathan, a finalist in Pune last week, fought back after being a set down to defeat lower-ranked Hugo Grenier 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Jay Clarke of Great Britain on Wednesday. Clarke had ousted Indian qualifier Sidharth Rawat 6-3 6-3 on Monday.

In the big upset of the day, qualifier Borna Gojo ousted second seed Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. Gojo is next up against Tsung-Hua Yang of Taipei.

Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia is overjoyed after his first-round win over Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Myneni withdraws

Top Indian singles player Saketh Myneni, who was awarded a wildcard entry in the Bengaluru Open, withdrew from his first-round match owing to a right shoulder injury. He was replaced by lucky loser Antoine Escoffier. "I had this injury before coming here. I tried for a couple of days during practice but I didn't want to take a risk," Myneni said.

Results

Round 1

Singles

1-Blaz Kavcic (SLO) bt Tomislav Brkic (BIH) 6-2, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (6); Q-Borna Gojo (CRO) bt 2-Adrian Menendez-Maceiras (ESP) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5; Suraj Prabodh (IND) lost to 4-Elias Ymer (SWE) 4-6, 6-7 (2); Kaichi Uchida (JPN) lost to Ante Pavcic 3-6, 4-6; Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) bt Matej Sabanov (CRO) 6-4, 6-1; Tsung-Hua Yang (TPE) bt Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP) 7-6 (1), 3-0 (retd); WC-Vishnu Vardhan (IND) lost to Mario Vilella Martinez (ESP) 3-6, 3-6; Naoki Nagakawa (JPN) lost to Pedro Martinez (ESP) 7-6 (5), 6-3; Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) bt Hugo Grenier (FRA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Dalwinder Singh (IND) lost to Antoine Escoffier (FRA) (LL) 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles

Timur Kabibulin (KAZ)/Alexandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) bt 4- Scott Clayton (GBR)/Jonny O'Mara (GBR) 6-4, 4-6, 10-7; 1-Mikhail Elgin (RUS)/Divij Sharan (IND) bt Geoffrey Blancaneaux (FRA)/Jay Clarke (GBR) 5-7, 6-4, 10-5; Sumit Nagal (IND)/Elias Ymer (SWE) bt Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND)/N Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND) 6-4, 1-6, 10-7