Asian Challengers - April 2018

[sameerph]

Prajnesh is up an early break leading 3-1 in the first set.

In next game, Prajnesh had 2 breakpoint at 40-30 and ad-in but Whittington saved both with aces and held for 2-3.

Great service game by Prajnesh with 1 ace and 2 unreturnable serves and he holds at love for 4-2.

Damn,Prajnesh missed 4 more breakpoints in Witthington's next service game and he holds for 3-4. He should covert his chances to assert his authority.

Another good service game by Prajnesh to hold at 15 for 5-3.

Whittington taken to deuce but won the next 2 points to hold for 4-5.

And another good hold at 15 by Prajnesh to take the first set 6-4.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh is up a break 2-0 in the second set.

He saves a break point in his next service game at 30-40 and holds for 3-1.

While serving at 3-1, 40-15 Prajnesh unnecessarily got defensive and it went to deuce but he won the next 2 points for 4-2. Prajnesh needs to stay aggressive as usual.

Prajnesh holds at 30 for 5-3. He does seem to be looking a little tired now or maybe a little more tentative than first set. Needs to hold firm.

Prajnesh had a look at 15-30 on Whittington serve but he held for 4-5. Now, Prajnesh has a chance to serve for the match.

Phew, Prajnesh saved a break point and put in a good serve to get to match point and then Whittington put the return into net.

[R2] Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,260) d. Andrew Whittington (AUS,271) 64 64

[jayakris]

Interesting drama at the end with Prajnesh facing a BP at 30-40, and then winning three points in a row. But it took a while to win the three points, as Whittington changed his racket, and then the wind kicked up a ton of dust in everybody's face. The supports of the net fell off, an ace at match point was called out, which was followed by an argument, etc. Prajnesh hit a service winner then and finished it off.

Terrific job, Prajnesh.

[suresh]

We get our first win of the day. Thanks Prajnesh.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh is getting closer and closer to French open qualifying draw. Upto 245 in the live rankings. A win the next match should get him to around 232 which would be more or less certain to make it in usual course. However, the last time cut off was 230 may be one off case.

[Rajiv]

There was no doubt in my mind about Prajnesh scoring over Andrew Whittington.

Next up Korean S Kwon , another beatable opponent and Prajnesh should win this one too

Am I being too greedy ……. Prajnesh for the title

[PKBasu]

Prajnesh is in very impressive form, making his second consecutive Challenger QF in China after that spectacular match-winning Davis Cup victory over the reigning US Open junior champion.

He earns 25 ATP points and $4380. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't go for the title!

[Rajiv]

Another R2 to watch with interest is when Mukund takes on Duck He Lee in the second match on Court 1 on Thursday

Mukund has amply shown he clearly has the game to take on the best in the business on Clay. , and even at Taipei ran the South African Llyod Harris who was serving thunderbolts very very close , with only a single break in the first set and a close TB in the second on Hard Courts
So he has complete all round game adjusting himself well on different surfaces and admirably against players with contrasting styles ,
Looking forward to a good run from him , which could well turn out to be an breakout tournament for him.

[Rajiv]

Prajnesh does not figure in the matches for tomorrow and should be fit and fresh for his important QF with an extra days rest..

Balaji & Vishnu play their first match tomorrow against the ever so dangerous Chinese pairing of Mao Gong / Zhe Zhang . 3rd Match on the Centre Court

Play Commences at 11 AM local time

[sameerph]

There was no doubt in my mind about Prajnesh scoring over Andrew Whittington.

Next up Korean S Kwon , another beatable opponent and Prajnesh should win this one too

Am I being too greedy ……. Prajnesh for the title

Perhaps too early to say that. But, the draw has opened up nicely him. Top seed Pospisil got upset by the big serving South African Lloyd Harris in the QF too. So, only seed left in Prajnesh's draw is the Korean Kwon and he does not look insurmountable going by his match against Bala today. Bala had numerous chances against Kwon to at least take that match to third set.

[jai_in_canada]

So a stormy end to The Gunman's match!
Baki hai Kwon?

[Sin Hombre]

Prajnesh is getting closer and closer to French open qualifying draw. Upto 245 in the live rankings. A win the next match should get him to around 232 which would be more or less certain to make it in usual course. However, the last time cut off was 230 may be one off case.

One difference to last year is the initial MD entry list closed at 98 vs 101 this year so likely that the final qualifying cutoff will be closer to 233; in which case reaching the semis might be enough for Prajnesh (though very touch and go).

[sameerph]

Yes and it does keep varying year to year. I checked for 2016 and cutoff was 242, RamK was able to get in with a ranking of 238 that time. Last year was unusually high.

All in all looks like winning the next match should get Prajnesh in to the French open qualies.

[sameerph]

Mukund up a break 4-2 in the first set against Duck Hee Lee.
Holds at love for 5-2.
And breaks Lee at 15 to take the first set 6-2 in 23 mins.

[Rajiv]

Wonderful start by Mukund , 5-2 up in the first set and well poised to pocket it