$54K(+H) Chennai Challenger, Feb 4-10, 2019

[arjun2761]

Nice wins by Prajnesh and Mukund! They are both at their career highs in the live rankings (at 97 and 281 respectively) and another couple of wins here would be great...

[meyyis]

Doubles

Earlier, both our pairs lost in the QFs.

[QF] (WC) Sidharth Rawat (IND)/ Manish Sureshkumar (IND) vs. (1) Luke Saville(AUS) / Matthew Reid(AUS) : 2-6, 2-6
[QF] N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND)/ Rubin Statham (NZL) vs. Glanluca Mager (ITA)/ Andrea Pellegrino (ITA) : 3-6, 1-6

[RohitG]

It's 1 set all in Mukund's match.

[sameerph]

Mukund wins a hard fought battle to move thru to the SF.

[QF] (16) Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,292) d. Brydan Klein (GBR,395) 62 36 76(3)


Mukund was a break up early in second set but was broken back twice. Third set went totally on serve and Mukund saved a crucial breakpoint at 5-5, 30-40. In the tie break, he sailed thru.

This is first challenger SF for Mukund after 4 quarter finals last year.

[jayakris]

Very nice to see Mukund in a semifinal!!! .... Let's hope for GPP to make it 2 SFs. 3-3 in the first set.

[suresh]

Gunner wins the first set 6-4.

Update 1: Gunner up 2 breaks at 3-0 in the second set. The main reason for this is that Duckworth playing poorly more than anything else. At this rate, it looks like the match will be over in a hurry.

Update 2: It is 5-1 with Duckworth serving to stay in the match.

Update 3: Gunner takes his foot of the pedal and lets Duckworth break him but promptly breaks back to win the second set 6-3.

[jayakris]

Alright. Gunner did it. 64 63... He was up 5-2 and unnecessarily dropped serve with some double faults. But no problem, as Duckworth was already worth no more than a duck, and was ready to crock anyway.

[QF] (1) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,102) d. (7) James Duckworth (AUS,241), 64 63

[suresh]

But no problem, as Duckworth was already worth no more than a duck, and was ready to crock anyway.

LOL!

[bujilover]

Top-100 ranking

[meyyis]

Up Next,

[SF] (1) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,103) vs. Andrew Harris (AUS,347)
[SF] (16) Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,293) vs. (2) Corentin Moutet (FRA,145)

In Live Rankings, Prajnesh has already risen up to a CH of 96 and Sasi Kumar Mukund to a CH of 270.

[jaydeep]

A good win by Mukund and expected win for Prajnesh ... In the semis, Mukund having a tough match against the 19 yrs. old #NextGen French guy, Corentin Moutet.

[arjun2761]

A good win by Mukund and expected win for Prajnesh ... In the semis, Mukund having a tough match against the 19 yrs. old #NextGen French guy, Corentin Moutet.

Hopefully, Mukund can continue his recent good form for at least one more round! He's been playing at a high level and has deserved all of his wins so far but Moutet is his toughest challenge yet. He seems to have added something to his serve and has served double-digit aces in his last couple of matches....

[sameerph]

Yes, 19 year old Moutet is 6th highest ranked under 20 player in the world and already has a challenger title to his name. So, that is a tough one. But, Mukund has nothing to lose. He has already achieved his first challenger SF and anything more will be a bonus. He can go all out.

Prajnesh has an easier match on paper against Australian Harris who has not done much at challenger level in last 1 year.

Mukund's match in about half an hour from now followed by Prajnesh's match.

[sameerph]

Mukund's match starts.

SM holds at 30. 3 aces in first game itself.
1-0 And he breaks CM at 15 with some great depth on returns and good grondstrokes to follow up.
2-0 SM holds at 30. Good hold from 15-30 down, an ace and 2 good first serves in.
3-0 CM holds at 30.
3-1 SM holds 30
4-1 SM had a breakpoint at ad-in but CM played well on next 3 points to hold.
4-2 Damn, SM broken at 15. Just a bit loose game by SM and CM playing better now. Well, SM had a chance to go 5-1 up but it is now back on serve.
4-3 SM breaks right back. CM serves a df at break point. SM to serve for the set now.
5-3 And SM holds at 30 sealing the set with an ace.
6-3.

[sameerph]

2-2 in the second set now.