$50K(+H) Chennai Challenger, 12-18 Feb. 2018

[Omkara]

Does this guarantee a French Open direct entry?

[PKBasu]

Vishnu/Balaji have won the first set 76(5) and are serving at 2-3 in the second set of the doubles final.

[PKBasu]

Vishnu/Balaji won the final 76(5) 57 10-5

[PKBasu]

Does this guarantee a French Open direct entry?

If he can maintain this ranking, yes. But he has some points to defend in the next few weeks.

[meyyis]

Vishnu and Balaji lost the second set at 7-5, but went on to a play a terrific STB (10-5) and win the final.

[F] (2) Sriram Balaji (IND) / Vishnu Vardhan (IND) d. Cem Ilkel (TUR) / Danilo Petrovic (SRB) : 7-6, 5-7, 10-5

Their first title of 2018, takes Vishnu and Balaji to their career high rankings of 102 and 115.

Wishing them well on the title. On and Upward from here

[jayakris]

Hey, Indians being in both finals made this tournament worthwhile, though things looked pretty bad after the first couple of rounds. Hope Yuki wins the final and completes a comeback into the top-100 that took quite a while to do. So glad for him. And congrats go to Vishnu and Balaji.

[PKBasu]

Vishnu and Balaji are actually at career high rankings of 102 and 115 respectively in the live rankings. It has indeed been a valuable Challenger for them and Yuki (even more so if Yuki duly wins the final tomorrow).

But it would have been even better if the India numbers 3, 4 and 5 had got past R1.

[arjun2761]

Good to see Yuki make the final and Vishnu/Balaji clinch the doubles titles when the rest of the Indians didn't take advantage of home cooking.

Jordan Thompson is a typical bottom of top-100 level grinder who has moved into the final here without dropping a set but otherwise hasn't won too much in the last few months. This will be a good test for Yuki as this is the type of opponent he needs to beat if he is to be successful at the ATP level.

I thought Yuki played well against Duck Hee Lee who tried to outslug Yuki but at 19 isn't good enough yet to do it.

[Rajiv]

In the preliminary rounds, there were many a occasions when Yuki wriggled out of the trouble only to come back strongly to ascertain himself , And this is a new trait seen in him , So with this new found approach Yuki seems to be favourite to lift the crown and burst into Top 100 once again

[knarayen]

In the preliminary rounds, there were many a occasions when Yuki wriggled out of the trouble only to come back strongly to ascertain himself , And this is a new trait seen in him , So with this new found approach Yuki seems to be favourite to lift the crown and burst into Top 100 once again

This is a great development if true and if he can sustain the level over the course of the coming year it will really help him break into top 75. Lots of "ifs ands and buts" along the way and best wishes to him.

[arjun2761]

Yuki and Thompson 4-4 in the first set. Yuki has a better overall game but has a simply awful first serve which is making this an even match...

Yuki drops the first set 5-7 having been broken thrice. Seems a little like the Baghdatis match, where Yuki is having to work very hard from the back court to hold his serve that he isn't able to pressure Thompson's serve after the first few games where seemed to have the measure of Thompson's serve and could dictate from the back court even in the return games. Hopefully, he can find the same energy and turn around this match....

Same pattern unfolding in second set. Yuki gets early break to go 2-0 up but is broken back its now 2-2.
Yuki breaks again and holds this time to lead 4-2 in the second set.
YUki to serve at 4-3 after Thompson holds at 30.
Yuki leads 5-3 after holding at 30.
Yuki breaks at love to take the second set 6-3.

[Omkara]

Lost 5-7. At critical juncture. 1st set Yuki broke twice and Jordan, thrice

[VReddy]

Yuki playing more aggressive tennis - won the second set (6-3). Onto the decider

[VReddy]

2 breaks down .. 0-3

[nitin28]

Yuki is getting some favorable line calls, able to reduce 1 break 2-3*, leveled 3rd set after 2 breaks down 3-3 and now he is unable to hold
And he breaks again.. Seems some women match going on :P