Taiwan/China/Korea Challengers- April/May 2017

[sameerph]

In next week's $150K+H challenger in Anning China on red clay, Prajnesh is 5th seed in qualies and got a first round bye. Sasi plays unranked Austrian Philip Oswald in Q1. Oswald is a doubles specialist ranked 67 in doubles and seems to be playing singles for the first time after a year.

[sameerph]

Sasi lost to Oswald 36 46 in Q1 in Anning Challenger. That is the inconsistency from Sasi which we have been talking about. Gives a good fight against a top 130 player in one week and gets beaten by an unranked player next week.

At $150K (+H) Anning Challenger, China (Clay)

[Q2] Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,288) vs. Denys Molchanov (UKR,767)

[Omkara]

Maybe red clay not his forte

[jaydeep]

Prajnesh started with straight sets win over Ukrainian ... Next, he is facing similar ranked Egyptian opponent.

At $150K+H Anning Challenger 2017, China (red clay)

[Q2] (5) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,288) bt Denys Molchanov (UKR,767) 64 64

[Q3] (5) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,288) vs (3) Karim-Mohamed Maamoun (EGY,273)

[sameerph]

Prajnesh wins in straight sets to qualify for main draw.

At $150K+H Anning Challenger 2017, China (red clay)

[Q3] (5) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,288) d. (3) Karim-Mohamed Maamoun (EGY,273) 63 64

Good win over slightly higher ranked Egyptian player. I watched parts of the match and it was hard grinding on red clay and Prajnesh seemed quite comfortable on the surface. Hope he gets couple of wins in the main draw to make this count.

[jaydeep]

Good win ... In the main draw, he is facing last week's Quigdao challenger finalist Oscar Otte, who is looking in good form as per his last week's results on the red clay.

At $150K+H Anning Challenger 2017, China (Red clay)

[R1] (Q) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,276) vs (SE) Oscar Otte (GER,263)

[prasen9]

You don't want to draw an SE because he/she is in form. However, sometimes, they may be tired after a whole week's play. So, if Prajnesh hangs in there, maybe he can eke out a win. Good luck!

[Varma]

If Otte is in piping hot form, Prajnesh is not too far behind. Our guy beat a higher ranked Egyptian player yesterday. The day before, he beat Molchanov, who not too long ago was ranked as high as 169. Couple of days prior to that, he fought closely for a set with 118th ranked Canadian, Vasek Posipisil, only to lose it in a TB. Even though his passport is Indian, Prajnesh has been regularly training in Germany for a few years. As Prasen mentioned, Otte may be tired from his run to the finals last week, while Prajnesh had perfect match practice and enough rest for his body to recuperate and recharge for this week. So, in my books this should at least be an evenly contested match.

- Varma

[arjun2761]

Yes, this is the kind of match you have to win to progress at the challenger level. #263 is probably among the lowest ranked player in the main draw, so Prajnesh should have no complaints on the draw...

[Varma]

Wait! Otte had to play qualies to get into the main draw last week. He played a total of 7 singles matches (with one walk-over given by his opponent in Q3) for a total of 12 sets. Additionally, he also made it to the doubles finals last week (4 more matches). This guy must be aching all over. I see Prajnesh as an overwhelming favorite in this match. I wish Mr.Gunneswaran took notice of his opponent's activity and resort to some Aussie style pre-match intimidating tactics. "So, I heard you have been playing constantly for the past 10 days. You must be dead tired, dude!"

- Varma

[prasen9]

Or better still, make him run around and keep the ball in play. So, that he will be tired by the second set (preferably) or the third set.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh wins the first set 6-4. He broke Otte at love in the very first service game and kept that advantage. He saved all 3 breakpoints on his serve. It is a close battle though and Prajnesh will have to keep playing at his best.

[sameerph]

But, Otte came back to win the next 2 sets.

At $150K+H Anning Challenger 2017, China (red clay)

[R1] (Q) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,276) l. (SE) Oscar Otte (GER,263) 64 36 46

Only 1 break in each set decided the match and Otte got 2 breaks against 1 by Prajnesh. 92 points against 88 overall.

[Rajiv]

Yes a disappointing result ,Was expecting a different result against a similar ranked and a tired player , Pragnesh should be winning such matches if needs to rise up in the rankings. , Hope he can manage some wins next week and change his fortune.

[prasen9]

When this happens, the logical conclusion is that he is not tired but in form