Press Trust of India
Kolkata, Feb 25: Ramkumar Ramanathan kept Indian hopes alive, advancing to the quarters, after Yuki Bhambri and Sanam Singh crashed out in the second round in the USD 50,000 Kolkata Open ATP Challenger Tour event at the Bengal Tennis Association courts here Wednesday. He will face Taipei’s Ti Chen, who is ranked 47 places higher than the Indian.
The talented Chennai lad, who ousted India No. 1 Somdev Devvarman, faced a strong challenge from Miki Jankovic of Serbia. Ramkumar quite convincgly won the first set after breaking Jankovic in the second and fourth games.
Jankovic came back strongly to win the second and was leading 5-4 in the third and serving for the match. However, Ramkumar broke back twice in succession to win the set 7-5 and with it the match. “It could have gone any way but I just kept on fighting and did not give up,” Ramkumar admitted after the match.
Earlier on the same court Yuki went down to Moldova’s Radu Ablot 6-3, 2-6, 1-6.. Meanwhile, Australia’s James Duckworth ended Sanam Singh hopes by defeating the wildcard 6-2, 6-1. The top seed Aussie will now face Belarus’ Egor Gerasimov.
The highlight of the day was German qualifier Richard Becker, who came back from behind to stun eighth seed and 166th ranked Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
