Asian Challengers - April 2018

[Rajiv]

Precisely on the eve on Ram making the Final at Talahasse, Prajnesh makes it the 7th Challenger Final by an Indian.

Probably this is a first in Indian Tennis History for 7 Challenger Finals by Indians in one calender year

[jaydeep]

The dream weeks for Indian tennis players in these big Chinese challengers ... First, Yuki secured his French Open, Wimbledon and US Open main-draw entries after winning the Santaizi Challenger ... In the same challenger, reaching in the final has helped Ramkumar to be top-16 seeded in the French open qualifiers ... This week, Prajnesh needed to reach in the final in this big Anning Challenger for securing French Open and Wimbledon qualifying entries and he achieves that with some solid wins.

We will remember 2018, as China keep helping Indian tennis; including our Davis cup win and Ankita's performance to break inside top-200.

[sameerph]

Wow, where did this come from. Only watched parts of first set. The stream was hazy and it did look like Prajnesh was just going thru the motions and seems to be hampered by something. I had to go away for something and was thinking that it would be a tame surrender like first set. Great to see Prajnesh come back and thump Majchrzak in next 2 sets.

So, it achieves 3 objectives for Prajnesh - Ensure entry into French open and Wimbeldon qualies draw, equal his career best ranking ( still not sure of that as few players below him are still alive at other challengers) and move to India #3 ahead of Sumit.

Next,

[F] Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,260) vs. Mohmed Safwat (EGY,229)

27 year old Safwat is looking for his second challenger title and in his second challenger final while Prajnesh too is in his second challenger final but looking for his first title.

[knarayen]

Precisely on the eve on Ram making the Final at Talahasse, Prajnesh makes it the 7th Challenger Final by an Indian.

Probably this is a first in Indian Tennis History for 7 Challenger Finals by Indians in one calender year

Wow this is great news to wake up to. Problems with. Livestream last night and gave up watching and dropped off to sleep.

[suresh]

Wow! Prajnesh gets a much needed win to keep his GS dream alive. Now he should consolidate and win he final and enter the top 200.

[jai_in_canada]

Prajnesh dis an excellent Muhammed Ali rope-a-dope impression losing the first set to love and then storming back to deliver the knock out punch.

Now beat that Egyptian till he cries out for his mummy!

[suresh]

^

[PKBasu]

Anning Challenger singles final, first set:

Prajnesh is broken in the first game of the match. He was leading in the game right through, but Safwat kept fighting back (from one point back each time) until he finally got a BP after the 4th (or perhaps 5th) deuce when a PG shot went long after hitting the net chord hard. And Safwat immediately converted the break chance. 0-1.
Prajnesh breaks back at 30, after another high quality back and forth game. 1-1
Prajnesh holds easily for 2-1.
Safwat saves two break chances (at 30-40 with an ace, and after the second deuce with a service winner) and holds. 2-2
Prajnesh is broken at 30, after he double-faulted at 30-all (having been 30-0 up), then a weak 2nd serve was pounced upon at BP. 2-3
Safwat holds at 30, despite a brilliant passing shot winner from Prajnesh at 40-15. 2-4
Prajnesh holds comfortably at 15. 3-4
Safwat holds at love, with PG extremely erratic on his returns. 3-5
Prajnesh holds at 15 (the one point lost was his 5th
My live streaming has broken. But at Deuce, PG has his 6th DF of the set. And is broken. 5-6
Streaming back, but Safwat holds at 15, and takes the first set 7-5

[knarayen]

PG down 5-6 just got broken again. Too many double faults from PG 6 already vs 0 from Safwat. Also PG is unable to serve aces at will, or at least a tough first serve when needed. There is a slight flaw in his wind up that was very difficult for me to spot which i think is what is preventing him from making that lefty serve into a weapon. He also needs to improve his volleying - looks a bit at sea there. Just lost 5-7 in the first set as i write.

Can't stay awake...hope he picks it up in the second.

Prof

[PKBasu]

US$150K+H Anning (Kunming) Challenger

[F] Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND, 260) vs. Mohamed Safwat (EGY, 229) 57 63

2 aces and 6 DFs from Prajnesh in the first set, 3 aces and no DFs from Safwat. Also 55% first serve percentage for PG vs 64% for MS.
2nd set, PG holds at 30. 1-0
Safwat holds at 30, PG at love (one ace there, after one DF in his previous service game). 2-1
MS holds at 15. 2-2
PG reels off 3 points (incl an ace) from 15-30. 3-2
Safwat serves two aces, but is broken at 30 (great strokeplay from the back by PG). 4-2
PG is broken at 30 (Safwat is a loud grunter, but in this game he has been grunting twice after each shot, and PG seems affected). 4-3
MS 0-30, then 30-40 (BP), but saves it. Two more BPs for PG, and he converts. 5-3
Serving for the second set. PG holds at love. 6-3! One set all in the final, with the momentum clearly with the Indian!

[PKBasu]

1st serve percentage 63% (PG) to 58% (MS) in the second set. and 82% 1st serve points won by Prajnesh. Key to that set.

I need to take a break. Can someone take over from here? Jay/Arjun?

[PKBasu]

US$150K+H Anning (Kunming) Challenger

[F] Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND, 260) vs. Mohamed Safwat (EGY, 229) 57 63 41

PG breaks Safwat in the third game, then holds at 30. 3-1
PG breaks Safwat at 30 (he could have broken at love, but made a hash of an easy volley after a long rally at 0-40). 4-1
The crowd is solidly behind Safwat, cheering him lustily after he passed PG at the net following that bad volley.

[Y2K]

And he holds at 30..3-1 now

[Y2K]

He is in a hurry.double break up now..its 4-1 now

[Y2K]

and he holds comfortably at love..5-1