Prajnesh Gunneswaran thread

[sameerph]

Prajnesh is playing Monterry challenger in Mexico.

At Monterrey Challenger 100, Mexico

[R1] (7) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,278) vs. (WC) Ryan Harrison (USA,522)

Prajnesh has fallen out of grand slam qualies range now and has 58 points to defend in April. So, will need some big point somewhere to get back into top 250.

[SaniaFan]

Wasn't Ryan Harrison at one point touted to be next champion from US? What happened to him? Injuries?

[PKBasu]

Yes, Ryan Harrison and Yuki Bhambri were contemporaries and friends as juniors, with both considered to have a lot of potential. They both faced the same fate -- too many injuries. Being American, Harrison (who had just as many injury breaks as Yuki) won an ATP singles title and made it to 40 in the rankings. Another contemporary from junior days was Jack Sock, who made it to top-10 in singles, and won a Slam doubles title or two. Sock too had his share of injury breaks.

[PKBasu]

But let's hope Prajnesh has a good run in Monterrey. R1 is far from a gimme though!

[sameerph]

Good win for Prajnesh to start with over former top 40 player.

At Monterrey Challenger 100, Mexico

[R1] (7) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,278) d. (WC) Ryan Harrison (USA,522) 63 64

Next,

[R2] (7) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,278) vs. Alex Rybakov (USA,368)

[jayakris]

That is a good win! Go Gunner!

[sameerph]

Another straight sets win for Prajnesh.

At Monterrey Challenger 100, Mexico

[R2] (7) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,278) d. Alex Rybakov (USA,368) 76(1) 61

Next,

[QF] (7) Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,278) vs. (3) Jason Jung (TPE,223)

They are 1-1 in head to head with Prajnesh winning the last match in Indian Wells qualies in 2019.

[Rajiv]

Fantastic win by Prajnesh over Jason Jung in 3 sets , coming back after dropping the opening set at 1 and storming back to take the last 2 sets at 5 & 4 to move into the SF.

Faces the winner of the match between the 2 PR's Go Soeda,Ulyses Blanch for a place in the Finals.

Hope he continues and maintains this momentum for this tourney and the comming weeks, as he is the only Indian who is playing good singles and showing positive signs to move upwards as far as singles play is concerned.

[Rajiv]

Prajnesh would be facing the 38 year, 275 ranked Japanese veteran Go Soeda for a place in the Finals.
H2H they are locked 2 all with Prajnesh wining their last meeting in Washington in August last year in straight sets 63 61.
Hope he can make it through to the finals to mark a best singles performance so far for the Indians for this year.

[arjun2761]

Wow, great performance by Prajnesh thus far! 2 more wins and it will be perfection!

[sameerph]

Prajnesh would be facing the 38 year, 275 ranked Japanese veteran Go Soeda for a place in the Finals.
H2H they are locked 2 all with Prajnesh wining their last meeting in Washington in August last year in straight sets 63 61.
Hope he can make it through to the finals to mark a best singles performance so far for the Indians for this year.

It is already best singles performance for an Indian player this year. No Indian player has made challenger SF this year.

But, in terms of quality of wins, Yuki had a couple of wins over higher ranked players than the ones Prajnesh beat here at Pune and Dubai. Nonethless, timely run by Prajnesh just when his ranking had gone down and he seems to be going out of range of challenger main draw too.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh loses the first set 67(7) against Soeda. Had so many opportunities there. Was 3-6 down in tie break, came back to lead 7-6 but just could not convert his chances.

Now needs a big fight to get back into this match.

[sameerph]

Praj wins the second set 76(4). 1 hour 56 mins for 2 sets only and almost dead even on total points - 89 to 90.

[Rajiv]

Phew.. Praj wins..

[Rajiv]

Amazing rallying by both the players ,over 2.5 hrs of pressure cooker, many of the rally over 20 to 25 shots.

Saw Verdasco playing Harrison and it looked Verdasco of the old, heavy huge groundies,presicion power serving and tactical play

will be a tough intresting encounter .