Mukund Sasikumar thread

[sameerph]

A bit strange that we have not updated this thread for almost a year since when Mukund is having his excellent run of results at challenger level.

With 5 challenger QF's and now a SF at last week's Chennai challenger, Mukund is now ranked at a career high of 271 in the ATP singles rankings. Next cache of points to defend are 29 in late April. He will have to earn those and add about 35-40 more to make the qualifying cut-off for French open. So, needs to earn about 65-70 points from now till end April to do that. Needs a QF-SF run till in 2-3 more challengers at a minimum.

[jaydeep]

Mukund played in Slovenian challenger.

At €46K+H Portoroz Challenger 2019, Slovenia (hard court)

[R1] (16) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,275) bye
[R2] (16) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,290) bt Evan King (USA,330) 46 75 63
[R3] (16) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,290) l (1) Aljaz Bedene (SLO,90) 26 26

[jaydeep]

Mukund is playing in Italy and having a first-round bye as a seeded player.

At €46K+H L'Aquila Challenger 2019, Italy (Clay)

[R1] (13) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,290) bye

[jayakris]

Hopefully he will go a bit deeper this time and won't run into the top seed or anything like last week, when he got a good win over Evan King. Hopeflly getting back to form.

[PKBasu]

One and out for Mukund on the clay, as he lost to Juergen Zopp (EST, 446) 57 46

[sameerph]

Mukund is at a new career high singles rankings of 241 this week.

As of now his ranking is good enough to gain entry at Australian open qualifying. But, he has 67 points to defend for rest of the year. So, he has earn those points or at least 50-55 of those to remain in top 250 and earn a place in his first grand slam qualies. Lots of challengers in Asia lined up for him to be able to do that.

[jaydeep]

Mukund is playing in the Kazakh challenger ... As a seeded player, he has received a bye.

At $54K+H Nur-Sultan 2 Challenger 2019, Kazakhstan

[R1] (14) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,233) bye

[sameerph]

Mukund lost in first round.

At $54K+H Nur-Sultan 2 Challenger 2019, Kazakhstan

[R1] (14) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,233) l. Konstantin Kravchuk (RUS,340) 46 26

Kravchuk is a 34 year old veterean who was ranked in top 100 in 2016. But, looks like is ageing now but still produces some good results every now and then. Still, a match which Mukund should have won. From the stats, looks an inconsistent performance by Mukund. 7 double faults and only 47% first serves in caused his downfall.

As of now Mukund still needs about 50 points to make sure he stays in top 250 by year end and makes it to AO qualifying.

As of now looks like he is taking a couple of weeks break and then travelling to Australia for 2 challengers starting from 21st October. Then, either a week off or a challenger in Japan and then Pune Challenger. These 3-4 weeks are crucial for him. Needs a SF or final in one of those weeks.

[jayakris]

Argh... Was looking forward to seeing Mukund doing well. Seven double faults is tough to overcome in any match.

[RohitG]

Better to do it in Traralgon and the other Aussie challenger where the cut is low as #500+. Same week RamK will be in Europe, Praj in China and Sumit in Lima. Can't depend on Pune because all these guys + Saketh will compete for those minimum spots in a Challenger 80. A semi will give you barely 29 points. Arjun too will look forward to salvage maximum out of the home turf.

[jaydeep]

Yes, a bad loss against an aging Russian.

[jaydeep]

Mukund is playing in the Australian challengers and has a bye as the seeded player.

At $54K+H Traralgon Challenger 2019, Australia

[R1] (10) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,230) bye

[sameerph]

At $54K+H Traralgon Challenger 2019, Australia

[R2] (10) Sasikumar Mukund (IND,230) vs. Sabastian Fanselow (GER,375)

Hope Mukund has a good run here to improve his AO qualification chances.

[prasen9]

Good luck to Sakumu!

[Rajiv]

Mukund wins the first set on TB (8-6), but not before getting out a mess as he lost 6 points in a row , this after being 5-1 up and was even facing a set point at 5-6