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

[suresh]

Ratiwatana twins are going to lose to Saki/Arjun in the first round.

[RohitG]

Mukund gets a comfortable 6-1, 6-1 win over Lescure to qualify for the main draw. Tough luck for Siddharth though as he loses 4-6, 4-6 against Hossam.

[suresh]

Saw bits of Lefty Sid's* match (seeing him play for the first time) -- he was playing way too loose and not concentrating while serving which is a crime, I think. Giving free points to an opponent is a big no no. He should also visit the gym and strengthen his upper body. There seems to be a lot of talent there but ... (I must confess that I know very little about playing tennis and this is my amateurish observation.)

* Going to call him Lefty Sid to distinguish him from Siddharth Rawat.

[meyyis]

At $150K+H Bangalore Challenger 2018, India

The Wild card pair of Prajwal dev and Niki Poonacha score a Good win in R1 in a MTB.

[R1] (WC) S.D. Prajwal Dev (IND)/ Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha (IND) d. Alexander Pavlioutchenkov (RUS)/ Filip Peliwo (CAN) : 1-6, 7-6, 10-2
[R1] (1) Kevin Krawietz (GER)/ Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) vs Andrej Martin (SVK)/ Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI)
[R1] (3) N. Sriram Balaji (IND)/ Vishnu Vardhan (IND) vs (WC) Sumit Nagal (IND)/ Brayden Schnur (CAN)
[R1] (WC) Chandril Sood (IND)/ Lakshit Sood (IND) vs Max Purcell (AUS)/ Luke Saville (AUS)
[R1] Arjun Kadhe (IND)/ Saketh Myneni (IND) vs (4) Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA)/ Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA)
[R1] (2) Purav Raja (IND)/ Antonio Sancic (CRO) vs Romain Arneodo (MON)/ Quentin Halys (FRA)

[PKBasu]

The rematch of last year’s final is on in the first round this year. Sumit was a break up at 3-2, but has just been broken for 3-3 in the first set.

[RohitG]

That was some explosive shot-making from Sumit to break from 15-40 down and then to go on and consolidate for the first set 6-4. He won 8 points in a row. The game where he got broken was were he lost two crucial points, both by approaching the net (one hitting the net and one lost by a passing shot by Jay) Maybe he should not approach the net so often

[PKBasu]

Great to see the defending champion win the first set over last year’s runner-up.

[RohitG]

Sumit breaks and to serve at 2-1

[jaydeep]

Good to see Mukund qualifies for the main draw comfortably ... In the main draw, he is facing the American Collin Altamirano.

[R1] (Q) Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,418) vs Collin Altamirano (USA,286)

[PKBasu]

[R1] WC-Sumit Nagal (IND, 309) d. 7-Jay Clark (GBR, 174) 64 75

Terrific start to Sumit’s title defence, as he knocks out last year’s finalist in straight sets (better than the 3-setter in last year’s final)!

[suresh]

This is a very good win from Sumit -- one had low expectations given his poor form in recent times.

[Omkara]

Maybe the thin air of Bangalore suits him.

[meyyis]

Ratiwatana twins are going to lose to Saki/Arjun in the first round.

They did lose to Saketh and Arjun in a Match Tie Break.

At $150K+H Bangalore Challenger 2018, India

[R1] (WC) S.D. Prajwal Dev (IND)/ Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha (IND) d. Alexander Pavlioutchenkov (RUS)/ Filip Peliwo (CAN) : 1-6, 7-6, 10-2
[R1] (WC) Chandril Sood (IND)/ Lakshit Sood (IND) d. Max Purcell (AUS)/ Luke Saville (AUS) : 2-6, 2-6
[R1] Arjun Kadhe (IND)/ Saketh Myneni (IND) d. (4) Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA)/ Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) : 6-3, 3-6, 11-9

[R1] (1) Kevin Krawietz (GER)/ Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) vs Andrej Martin (SVK)/ Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI)
[R1] (3) N. Sriram Balaji (IND)/ Vishnu Vardhan (IND) vs (WC) Sumit Nagal (IND)/ Brayden Schnur (CAN)
[R1] (2) Purav Raja (IND)/ Antonio Sancic (CRO) vs Romain Arneodo (MON)/ Quentin Halys (FRA)

[jaydeep]

Yes, it seems conditions are suited to Sumit's game ... Next, he is facing British veteran James Ward.
Dev-Niki r facing Saki and Arjun in the quarters.

At $150K+H Bangalore Challenger 2018, India

[R2] (WC) Sumit Nagal (IND,309) vs James Ward (GBR,199)

Doubles
[QF] Arjun Kadhe (IND)/ Saketh Myneni (IND) vs (WC) S.D. Prajwal Dev (IND)/ Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha (IND)

[PKBasu]

Another tough British opponent for Sumit in R2. James Ward has a career-high singles rank of 89 (from 3 years ago). Although 31, he is still playing like a genuine top-200 player. But I doubt his game is as suited for Bengaluru as Sumit's clearly is.