Pune ATP 2022

[PKBasu]

[R1] W-Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND, 228; CH 75) vs. 5-Daniel Altmaier (GER, 85; CH 84) 67(5) 26

Prajnesh is broken in the first game of Set 2, after numerous deuces. 0-1
Altmaier holds after one deuce. 0-2.
Prajnesh, with some big hitting from the baseline, holds at 30. 1-2
Each hold, Prajnesh after saving a BP. 2-3
Altmaier holds at 30. 2-4.
Prajnesh is broken at 30; went down 15-40, came up with a good 2nd serve for 30-40, but couldn't handle a passing shot at net. 2-5. Big trouble.
30-0 for Altmaier, DF, 30-15, easy BH volley for 40-15, nice BH return from PG, 40-30, BH into net. 2-6
Disappointing second set from Prajnesh.

[jaydeep]

A superb comeback win by Yuki, his rustiness is expected after his long injury layoff ... Prajnesh's game fell apart after missing a set point in the first set.

[jayakris]

Wish Prajnesh could hold up and pull it off somehow. At least he played well for one set, showing that he still has the game at a pretty high level. But things haven't been clicking well in a sustained manner for quite a while for him.

[PKBasu]

Yuki really had to dig deep to get back into contention and eventually win his match. His opponent had an all-court game, much more powerful than the typical clay-courter, with excellent volleying ability (to my great surprise). It sort of explains why he was ranked as high as 80 less than 4 years ago. When Yuki was down 2-4 in the first set, I had more or less given up. But he fought (broke) back, and played a long, bruising tiebreaker in which he did have a few chances -- he was ahead 3-1, 5-3, and had at least 3 set points -- before losing it 10-12. In the second set, he was initially struggling to hold serve, but slowly Yuki began chipping away at Kovalik's service games, coming up with the sizzling service returns he is known for (with the BH surprising his opponent with its potency). A player slowly getting rid of the rust, showing the brilliance he is capable of (from 2-2 to 6-2 in the second), then grinding out a narrow third set win. A really good work-out for Yuki, and he will relish the extra day of non-action in singles before his next match.

[Sanjay]

Too bad there are no Indians in the bottom half!

[prasen9]

So that's what is going on. Guy moved his names around and is participating as D. Novak in this ATP tournament. Seems like nobody caught it.

[Omkara]

yadAyadAhi tennissya gLAaniRbhavati bhArata, sambhavAmi yukI yukI !!!

For a moment I thought this gibberish....

[Rajiv]

Saw Yuki's match yesterday , he played well but only in patches , just needs to connect the wires and it's simply a matter of getting more match play and staying injury free to get him on track.

[PKBasu]

Agree Rajiv. He was playing really badly -- embarrassingly badly -- in the first set. Utterly brilliant in the second half of the second set. Then a bit up and down in the third set. Definitely still rusty from lack of match-play.

[PKBasu]

Arjun Kadhe storms back from 3-4 to go up 5-4. The guy clearly should be playing more singles. (This fast court suits his game, of course; Ramkumar too should like it).

[PKBasu]

Arjun Kadhe wins the first set 7-6 (7-5) against world #137 Joao Sousa (POR).

[jayakris]

Arjun lost the second set 67(4) and is down a break 0-2 in the third .... I guess this is how it goes.

[PKBasu]

He's fading now. 0-4 in the third set. As a non-regular singles player, he needed to win that second set TB. He can't last through 2 TBs and another set...

This match isn't on the Centre Court, so isn't being telecast

Manages to hold for 1-4.

[Omkara]

Either he plays more singles or we should not waste wc on him

[PKBasu]

Arjun lost 76(5) 67(4) 26 to Joao Sousa (POR, 137).