$150K(+H) Bangalore/$50K(+H) Pune Challenger, Nov.12-25, 2018

[suresh]

[QF] (WC) Saketh Myneni (IND,315) d (WC) Sumit Nagal (IND,310) 6-4 6-4

Easy win for Saki. Sumit was unable to do much on Saki's serve.

[bujilover]

Probably old news for you guys, but Yuki withdrew from yet another tournament. Out of Pune!

[suresh]

Several times, players were interrupted by spectators (at Bengaluru) moving as they were serving. The umpire kept asking people to sit down. Basic tennis etiquette requires one to wait till the end of a game to walk to one's seat. This is annoying and messes up the rhythm of players.

[sameerph]

Thanks Sameer for the clarification. Looks like the three points were done while I was checking out the other match.

I never said anything about it.

But, sad to see Mukund having to retire. He was playing 6th match without any break which is always hard. Hope he recovers for next week in Pune and if he does hope he gets a main draw wild card. It will be too much for him having to play qualies again over the weekend after playing 5 matches in 5 days this week.

[SF] (WC) Saketh Myneni (IND,312) vs. Alexander Nedoyvesov (KAZ,211)

[SF] (4) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,144) vs. Brayden Schnur (CAN,233)

Saki is 3-1 head to head against Nedoyvesov while Prajnesh is playing Schnur for the first time.

Important couple of matches for both Prajnesh and Saketh. A title here would take Prajnesh close to Australian open main draw although he would still need a SF or better at Pune next week to make it in. ( as he has QF points to defend next week). A title here would surely take Saketh into 220's and into Australian open qualies draw.

[PKBasu]

Sad to see Sumit’s unbeaten run in Bangalore end. Hope he gains some points in Pune too. Great to see Saketh back in cracking form though!

[sameerph]

After losing the first set 4-6 with 1 break of serve, Saki was down 1-3 in the second set against Nedovyesov. From there, he has made a strong comeback to win the second set 6-4.

Hope Saki continues that comeback into third set.

[sameerph]

Saki breezing thru the third set leading 4-0 with a double break.

He was serving for the match at 5-1 but gets broken. Just seemed to have lost his concentration. No let up please, Saki.

Nedo holds 15 for 3-5. Suddenly, after being 5-0 up, Saki has lost 12 of the 14-15 points in last 3 games. Has another chance to serve for the match.

Damn, Saki had 2 matchpoints at 40-15, he thought he had hit an ace on second serve but was given a double fault, then served another df to get to deuce, got another match point at ad-in which he missed and then gets broken.

Phew, Saki missed another mp at 40-30 on Nedo serve but then Nedo helped him with a double fault and a backhand error.

[bujilover]

Thank God! Not another meltdown, Saki manages to win the third set and the match

[sameerph]

Yep, it looks he was nervous while serving for the match and got broken twice while doing so. Looked liked playing too defensively when he was getting close to winning.

[SF] (WC) Saketh Myneni (IND,312) d. Alexander Nedoyvesov (KAZ,211) 46 64 64

He would have cursed himself if he had lost from that position of 5-0 up in third set but overall it was a great comeback from a set and a break down in second set.

[jaydeep]

Yes, in end it was surprisingly close ... Good to see Saki got little help from Nedo.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh takes the first set 6-4 in the second semi final against Canadian Schnur with 1 break of serve.

[Omkara]

All India final

[bujilover]

Unbelievable considering even when our #1,2 skipped this week.

[bujilover]

Re: Pune Challenger, Sumit is now only one spot from making the main draw.

[PKBasu]

Fabulous that we’ll have an all-Indian final in the biggest Indian Challenger! Prajnesh thrashes Shnur 64 61 to join Saketh in the final!

Prajnesh is the new India #1 at 123 in the world, and Saketh rises to 264.