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

[sameerph]

Looks like Prajnesh will have to win this to have a chance for MD entry at the AO.

Yes, a title will take him to 102 in both next week's ATP rankings as well as shadow ranking ( with new ATP ranking rules). Last year's cut off was 103. So, it will be touch and go still. But, let him first win the next 2 matches which will be critical.

[meyyis]

At $50K+H Pune Challenger 2018, India

After his sluggish display in singles, RamK partnering VSP had a strong showing in doubles and the pair has moved to the Finals.

[R1] N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND)/ Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) d. (WC) Aryan Goveas (IND)/ Dhruv Sunish (IND) : 7-6, 6-1
[QF] N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND)/ Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) d. Sanjar Fayziev (UZB)/ Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) : 6-3, 6-4
[SF] N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND)/ Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) d. (4) Andrej Martin (SVK) / Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI) : 7-6, 6-0
[F] N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND)/ Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) vs. (3) Cheng Peng Hsieh (TPE) / Tsung Hua Yang (TPE)

[RohitG]

Prajnesh off to a bad start. Albot seems to be in control getting an insurance break to serve at 4-1. Albot has solid groundstrokes and is unlike all the opponents Prajnesh has faced in the last 2 weeks.

[sameerph]

After losing the first set tamely, Prajnesh is up a break serving at 4-3 in the second set.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh takes the second set 6-4.

Go Prajnesh.

[sameerph]

Third set

Albot holds at 30.
0-1 Prajnesh taken to deuce but wins the next 2 points to hold.
1-1 Prajnesh breaks Albot at 15 .
2-1 Prajnesh holds at 15.
3-1 Albot holds at 15.
3-2 Couple of errors from Praj to go 0-30 down but got 3 big first serves in to get in to 40-30, deuce, ad-out - break point, saved with a big serve and wins the next 2 points for a big hold
4-2 Albot holds
4-3 Prajnesh saved 2 more break points in this game before holding, Albot trying hard to put pressure on Praj's serve
5-3 Albot holds
5-4 Prajnesh started with a double fault, but recovered well to win the 2nd point with hitting the ball at feet of approaching Albot ... Some big hitting by both players but Prajnesh managed to win points on forced and unforced errors to hold at 30
6-4

[SF] (4) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,110) bt (1) Radu Albot (MDA,102) 16 64 64

I need to go out now and hope to return to see Prajnesh win.

[ankit1407]

Prajnesh has a pretty solid game, impressive...

[ankit1407]

Big hold that from Prajnesh, saved 3 BP.... leads 5-3

[ankit1407]

wins it 64 in the third....well done

[jaydeep]

An excellent comeback win by Prajnesh in this match against a good player ... Next, he is facing Swedish challenge of Elias Ymer.

At $50K+H Pune Challenger 2018, India

[F] (4) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,110) vs (3) Elias Ymer (SWE,132)

[suresh]

Good to see Indians in both finals tomorrow. Best of luck to Gunner and VSP/RamK.

[sameerph]

Great to comeback and see that Prajnesh completed an excellent comeback win. Thanks Jaydeep for updating the remaining part of third set.

Up against Elias Ymer whom he lost to in final round of French open qualies.

Hope he overturns that result in one last big effort which will also clinch for him the AO main draw spot.

Go Prajnesh.

[knarayen]

Does anyone know if the Pune Challenger matches are being broadcast locally in India, and if so which channel?

I use the live feed available here: https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour

Prof, I hope you get to watch Mukund play and would like you to comment on his anticipation of his opponent's next stroke.

Sorry couldnt watch Mukund this time...maybe next time.

I'm assuming Prajnesh plays tomorrow (Sunday) in the finals. I watched his loss to Ymer in the French Open Qualies - I think he is playing more consistent these days and he may pull ahead.

Prof

[jayakris]

Can't stop being impressed by Prajnesh. One of the steadiest years we have seen from Indians. He never really had any elongated bad patches, and had only very few (if any) bad losses all year. He is our #1 right now.

[sameerph]

Does anyone know if the Pune Challenger matches are being broadcast locally in India, and if so which channel?

I use the live feed available here: https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour

Prof, I hope you get to watch Mukund play and would like you to comment on his anticipation of his opponent's next stroke.

Sorry couldnt watch Mukund this time...maybe next time.

I'm assuming Prajnesh plays tomorrow (Sunday) in the finals. I watched his loss to Ymer in the French Open Qualies - I think he is playing more consistent these days and he may pull ahead.

Prof

No, the final is today i.e Saturday at 6 pm India time.

If you wish to watch Mukund play, his this week's matches are available on challenger live stream archives. For instance this is the link for his SF loss against Albot -

Pune Challenger QF