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

[PKBasu]

What an impressive win for Prajnesh over Radu Albot, who was in the top-100 until a few weeks ago (career high 81 last year) and made R3 at Wimbledon this year. I’m sure Prajnesh would have beaten Ymer if the final had been tomorrow; now, at 6pm, it will depend on how much he has left in the tank.

Impressive from RamK/VSP to beat a good pair (4th seeded Andrej Martin and Podliplink-Castillo) to make the doubles final. They won 76 60, and play the 3rd seeded Taiwanese pair in the final later this evening.

[suresh]

VSP/RamK win the doubles title in a super tiebreaker. 7-6 6-7 1-0(7)

[sameerph]

Prajnesh lost the first set 2-6 and it is 3-3 in the second set.

Phew,Praj saves 3 bp's to hold for 4-4.
Ymer holds after a long service game with 6 deuces and saving a bp for 5-4.
Praj holds at love for 5-5.'
Ymer holds at 15 for 6-5.
And he breaks Praj at love to take the set and the match,

At $50K+H Pune Challenger 2018, India

[F] (4) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,110) l. (3) Elias Ymer (SWE,132) 26 57

[RohitG]

Once again Ymer spoils the party

[ankit1407]

All over 26 57

[sameerph]

I watched the match only from middle of second set and Prajnesh seemed to be a little impatient and trying to finish the points early. Making a few more errors too than in the earlier matches. Fatigue set in it seems.

Anyway,great couple of weeks for him.

[vparam]

Great couple of weeks for PG. It will be a close call to get a direct entry into the AO. Hopefully in the days leading up to the tournament, a couple of withdrawals will allow Prajnesh to go straight to the main draw.

[RohitG]

When is the entry list deadline for AO and will they use the shadow ranking or current points system? As of now he has 550 points including 33 from futures earned throughout the year. He has 15 points falling off courtesy Indonesia Future on December 10. This was a golden opportunity to seal the deal since the other 2 guys in fray: Lorenzo and Sonego lost in earlier rounds at Andria Challenger.

[sameerph]

When is the entry list deadline for AO and will they use the shadow ranking or current points system? As of now he has 550 points including 33 from futures earned throughout the year. He has 15 points falling off courtesy Indonesia Future on December 10. This was a golden opportunity to seal the deal since the other 2 guys in fray: Lorenzo and Sonego lost in earlier rounds at Andria Challenger.

Entry deadline is 3rd December rankings. But, shadow ranking will be considered, not current rankings. So, his 33 futures points will be taken out and he will fall to around 108 with which he is unlikely to make it.

[Sin Hombre]

No close calls for Prajnesh, he will miss out on direct AO main draw and should plan accordingly.

[PKBasu]

Sad that Prajnesh couldn’t beat both the top seed and the young Swedish phenom in succession. But still a terrific couple of weeks for him, which will take him to 104 in the ATP rankings.

[sameerph]

No close calls for Prajnesh, he will miss out on direct AO main draw and should plan accordingly.

The only chance for him now is if he wins the Asian wild card play off next week.

But, let us see if he has anything left in the tank for that after playing so many matches in last 2 weeks.

[Rajiv]

The Pune 80K(H) Challenger will take place on 11th Nov , and apart from Pune there seems to be no other Indian Challenger slated in the last 3 months of the season , unless there are any last minute additions.

[sameerph]

Yes, was disappointed to see big Bangalore Challenger which was held in last 2-3 years is off calender this year. But, learn that they are planning to hold it in February and there is likely to be a 3 week swing of challengers at Banagalore, Chennai and Mumbai after Pune ATP event at that time.

[PKBasu]

Terrible news. Prajnesh will struggle to retain the points he earned at Bangalore last year, jeopardising his chances for the AO.

Holding the Pune ATP after the AO is a terrible idea, as Indians need the points before the AO, not after. And holding the Challengers after the ATP event is even sillier. It should be the other way around, so the Indian players could peak for the Pune ATP.