US Challengers 2021

[Rajiv]

Next Match for Ram is going to be tough, in fact one of the most difficult opponents Ram has played in the last 2 weeks.
Have seen the leftie Chilean play, gets those wicked angled serve's,and slaps and picks the ball early.
Let's hope our boy can spring a surprise.

[Sanjay]

Watching the RR match. He seems to scream a lot, unlike other players at the Challenger level. Not sure if this is helping him, he stands out in a not so nice way.

He isn't grunting right now, but I am expecting that to start if he gets closer to losing.

[Sanjay]

Knowing Jay, I do not think he knew that. Anyway, how does one know what religion he follows anyway?

I have been following tennis since the 80s and I didn't know that vijay Amritraj was a Christian. I found out around 2010 and was amazed.

[Rajiv]

Kozlov last week after playing 2 matches could hardly walk in 3rd set against Ram,Kruger after winning the Finals barely had enough gas left in the tank when he got knocked out in the R1 the next day after the finals.
Such physically demanding pro tennis is on a players legs.

But here was Ram playing non stop singles and doubles purely on adrenaline fuelled since the past 12 days and still managed to make the most in a 67 46 loss and run his fancied opponent close, So no shame in this loss, and surely the result would have been different if the 2 had met say early this week or last week

[jayakris]

^^ I have to agree. I didn't expect him to play this close a match, when it is some 8 singles matches (plus a couple of doubles matches too) that he has played in the last 10 days. Take some rest RamK.

At the $52K Lexington Challenger
[QF] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,207) l. (6) Alejandro Tabilo (CHI,174), 67(4) 46

[Sanjay]

Kozlov last week after playing 2 matches could hardly walk in 3rd set against Ram,Kruger after winning the Finals barely had enough gas left in the tank when he got knocked out in the R1 the next day after the finals.
Such physically demanding pro tennis is on a players legs.

But here was Ram playing non stop singles and doubles purely on adrenaline fuelled since the past 12 days and still managed to make the most in a 67 46 loss and run his fancied opponent close, So no shame in this loss, and surely the result would have been different if the 2 had met say early this week or last week

I think he should pick either singles or doubles and play just that and try to excel. I don't think he can do well in both.

[PKBasu]

Champaign Challenger

[Q2] Arjun Kadhe (IND, 804) vs. 6-Evan King (USA, 530) 64 67(4)

Arjun, after beating Mukund in Q1, has won the first set against the former world #185 and leads 5-4 in the second (on serve). Of course, Arjun's own career-high was 328 in singles, so it isn't a complete surprise that he is still competitive at age 27 against 29 year old Evan King. Arjun has had a few break chances in the second set but hasn't been able to convert. King holds after one deuce to make it 5-5 in the second set. Arjun holds again at love (as he did in the previous game). 6-5
King holds after 2 deuces (but no MPs), 6-6.
Interestingly before the 2nd set TB, Arjun has won 60% of his first serve points in the match, but 67% of his second serve points! For King, those numbers are 61% and 44%.
Hell, but in the TB, King races to a 6-1 lead. Arjun pulls it back to 3-6, 4-6 (minibreak back), but King serves it out 7-4.
Terrible missed opportunity early in the tiebreak for Arjun Kadhe.

Govind Nanda (USA, 482) was 5th seed in the qualifiers, but lost in Q1.

[PKBasu]

[Q2] Arjun Kadhe (IND, 804) d. 6-Evan King (USA, 530) 64 67(4) 62

Arjun puts the 2nd set TB disappointment behind him to race to a 4-1 lead in the final set. He is now serving to go up 5-1. And he holds at love to do just that!! 5-1
Quick hold by King. 5-2.
Kadhe serving for the match. 15-all, 30-15, 30-all, 30-40, Deuce, Ad-in (MP), VICTORY!!

[PKBasu]

Arjun Kadhe plays fellow 27 year old Pedja Krstin (SRB, 317) in R1 of singles.
6-Prajnesh Gunneswaran plays wildcard Vasil Kirkov (USA, 491) in R1.

Arjun and partner Tung-Lin Wu play Aleksandars Kovacevic and Vukic (neither much experienced in doubles) in R1.

[jayakris]

This came out of nowhere. Arjun suddenly playing very well in singles!! Okay, give it a serious go, Arjun!!

[vparam]

Prajnesh losing 5-7, 0-2. He’s playing like he has no interest in being there. Just god awful tennis from him. Nothing but unforced errors! Hard to believe he was ranked 75th at one point watching him play today.

[vparam]

For the record, PG loses 5-7, 2-6 to Kirkov. No need to watch the replay in case you missed it. Might be time for PG to take a break.

[Sanjay]

For the record, PG loses 5-7, 2-6 to Kirkov. No need to watch the replay in case you missed it. Might be time for PG to take a break.

I think he was hurt after the 1st set./

[sameerph]

Bad loss for Prajnesh. He now falls outside top 200, at 215 in live rankings, Sumit is 218, RamK at 221. Prajnesh and RamK has chance to rise up back next week in Baharain. And Ramk in tournaments in Turkey thereafter.

Good performance by Arjun in singles after some time.

[PKBasu]

Absolutely horrendous loss for Prajnesh:

[R1] 6-Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND, 197) l. WC-Vasil Kirkov (USA, 491) 57 16