New Delhi: Ramkumar Ramanathan extended his dream run as he reached his maiden ATP World Tour singles final with a straight-set win over Tim Smyczek in Newport, Saturday. If he wins Sunday Ramkumar will be the first Indian after Leander Paes to win an ATP singles title at Newport in 20 years.
The 23-year-old from Chennai will meet American Steve Johnson, who beat Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-3 in the other semi-final, for the Hall of Fame Open title in Rhode Island.
Ramkumar who beat the American 6-4, 7-5 also became the first Indian in seven years to make it to the singles title round on ATP World Tour after now retired Somdev Devvarman reached the summit clash at Johannesburg in 2011.
Ranked 161th in world Ramkumar just dropped just one set en route the final at the grass court event. “I was serving well and I just hung in there,” Ramkumar was quoted as saying by ATPWorldTour.com.
“I didn’t have the greatest first set on return, but I found a groove. He’s a really tricky opponent, especially on these courts. I’m pretty happy to get through.” He fired seven aces to Smyczek’s four in the 90-minute clash.
On the other hand third seed Johnson needed just 68 minutes to beat Granollers, winning 88 percent of his first serve points and taking advantage of six double faults from the Spaniard.
Earlier in the day, 1991 Wimbledon champion Michael Stich and Czech Helena Sukova, who won 14 Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles crowns, were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Results
Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Tim Smyczek 6-4, 7-5
Steve Johnson bt Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-3
