Asian Challengers July-October 2017

[Rahb]

At $125K Chengdu Challenger 2017, China

[F] (2) N. Sriram Balaji (IND)/ Vishnu Vardhan (IND) bt (1) Cheng-Peng Hsieh (TPE)/ Hsien-Yin Peng (TPE) 6-3 6-4

Another title for Bala-Vishnu on Challenger level after the Fergana ATP Challenger in addition to the six ITF Futures they won this season.

[Rahb]

Bala at 146 in Live Rankings and Vishnu at 133

[jaydeep]

Good to see Vishnu and Bala r dominating Asian challengers.

VSP and Sid qualified for the main-draw of big Jinan challenger ... Both lost the first set before winning next two sets comfortably.

At $150K Jinan Challenger 2017, China

[Q1] (3) N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND,519) bt Mousheg Hovhannisyan (USA,1240) 46 61 60
[Q1] (4) Sidharth Rawat (IND,574) bt Srgey Betov (BLR,762) 26 63 63

[jaydeep]

All 3 players who lost in the qualifying r in the main-draw as a lucky loser.

But not easy matches for our players in the main-draw ... Saki having tough match against 2nd seed Donskoy and Bala is facing experienced 3rd seed Go Soeda.

At $150K Jinan Challenger 2017, China

[R1] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,419) vs Alexander Kudryavtsev (RUS,329)
[R1] (Q) Sidharth Rawat (IND,574) vs (7) Soon Woo Kwon (KOR,203)
[R1] N.Sriram Balaji (IND,295) vs (3) Go Soeda (JPN,138)
[R1] Vishnu Vardhan (IND,424) vs Ti Chen (TPE,267)
[R1] (Q) N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND,519) vs Shuichi Sekiguchi (JPN,350)
[R1] (PR) Saketh Myneni (IND,438) vs (2) Evgeny Donskoy (RUS,124)

[sameerph]

It is very rare to have 6 Indians in the main draw of a challenger abroad. It become even more surprising when none of our current top 4 ( Yuki,RamK,Prajnesh and Sumit) are not playing here. So, it is a good chance for Indian second string to make their mark. But, looking at the draw, I doubt if any of them will win even their first round match.

[jayakris]

It is very rare to have 6 Indians in the main draw of a challenger abroad.

I suspect that this has never really happened. At least I don't remember. And like you say, it is even more surprising that it doesn't include our best 4. Yeah, nobody with a great chance for win but somebody or other may pull an upset, I suppose.

[Omkara]

Weak field for a $150k challenger. Good for us.

[bujilover]

Vishnu has a fair chance of upsetting Ti Chen if he serves well. VSP did well in the FQR too albeit losing the first set TB serving 21 aces. You never know!!!

[jaydeep]

Tomorrow VSP, Sid and Vishnu r playing their singles matches and Sid-Sasi r playing their doubles match.

Doubles
[R1] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND)/ Sidharth Rawat (IND) vs Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)/ Mario Vilella Martinez (ESP)
[R1] (3) N. Sriram Balaji (IND)/ Vishnu Vardhan (IND) vs Saketh Myneni (IND)/ N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND)

[knarayen]

It is very rare to have 6 Indians in the main draw of a challenger abroad. It become even more surprising when none of our current top 4 ( Yuki,RamK,Prajnesh and Sumit) are not playing here. So, it is a good chance for Indian second string to make their mark. But, looking at the draw, I doubt if any of them will win even their first round match.

Let us hope and pray that this trend is a precursor to India producing a strong pipeline of good players all competing hard for Davis cup play. Always good to have this.

[Varma]

BTW, what's cooking in Somdev's kitchen these days? I am expecting him to do something out of ordinary to help Indian tennis.

- Varma

[vatsal323]

This is what Somdev is upto!

http://www.hindustantimes.com/tennis/so ... gQDFP.html

[jaydeep]

Vishnu has a fair chance of upsetting Ti Chen if he serves well.

Dinesh, spot on ... As he served 21 aces and did not get broken once in the entire match.

Vishnu pulled excellent straight sets upset win over experienced Ti Chen in the first round ... VSP and Sid failed to challenge their opponents in the first round.

At $150K Jinan Challenger 2017, China

[R1] (Q) Sidharth Rawat (IND,574) l (7) Soon Woo Kwon (KOR,203) 26 46
[R1] Vishnu Vardhan (IND,424) bt Ti Chen (TPE,267) 76(3) 63
[R1] (Q) N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND,519) l Shuichi Sekiguchi (JPN,350) 46 46

Doubles
[R1] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND)/ Sidharth Rawat (IND) l Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)/ Mario Vilella Martinez (ESP) 26 16

[Sin Hombre]

Saketh's match can be seen live on the atp ch website.

[PKBasu]

Nice job by Vishnu to beat Ti Chen yesterday.

Absolutely disastrous day so far today. Balaji lost 2 and 2 to Soeda, and Saketh lost by the same score to Donskoy (admittedly two very tough players to run into at the start of the tournament). Sasi lost 3 and 2 to Kudryavtsev.