Manas Dhamne thread

[jayakris]

I would love to see one of our players in Jr GSs again. So long since we had people who actually won them.

I think LP is the last one to win a junior grand slam singles title. But that was back some 34 years ago. I just want to see somebody threatening to make the QF or SF. Even that has not happened in a long time, maybe since Yuki made the AO semifinal [EDIT: He won the title, as Sameer pointed out below. I had forgotten that]

[Sanjay]

I would love to see one of our players in Jr GSs again. So long since we had people who actually won them.

I think LP is the last one to win a junior grand slam singles title. But that was back some 34 years ago. I just want to see somebody threatening to make the QF or SF. Even that has not happened in a long time, maybe since Yuki made the AO semifinal.

Unfortunately I wasn't following Indian tennis during Yuki's rise, so I missed it completely. I just had to make do with Banerjee winning the Wim Singles but now I would like to see someone with an Indian flag. Manas is our hope. As you say, let's see if he can make it to a semis. He is already beating higher ranked players.
Among U-18 players, Manas is No 5 in the world and No 12 for U-19. Good signs.

[sameerph]

I would love to see one of our players in Jr GSs again. So long since we had people who actually won them.

I think LP is the last one to win a junior grand slam singles title. But that was back some 34 years ago. I just want to see somebody threatening to make the QF or SF. Even that has not happened in a long time, maybe since Yuki made the AO semifinal.

Yuki won the AO juniors title in 2009. Since than nobody has even made it to the QF in boys.

[arjun2761]

^^^ Yuki won his junior GS when he was still 16!

Meanwhile, Manas is trailing 4-6, 3-2 (on serve) in R2.

[arjun2761]

Manas loses 46 46 in R2 against #376. Playing two matches probably hurt Manas going against a fresh opponent.

[Sanjay]

Manas loses 46 46 in R2 against #376. Playing two matches probably hurt Manas going against a fresh opponent.

Both opponents ranked a good amount higher.

[sameerph]

Manas gets a wild card for qualifying draw for Madrid ATP 100.

At Madrid ATP 1000, Spain (Clay)

[Q1] (WC) Manas Dhamne (IND,775) vs. (15) Luca Nardi (ITA,102)

Probably a step up for Manas but hope he is competitive.

[vparam]

Manas gets a wild card for qualifying draw for Madrid ATP 100.

At Madrid ATP 1000, Spain (Clay)

[Q1] (WC) Manas Dhamne (IND,775) vs. (15) Luca Nardi (ITA,102)

Probably a step up for Manas but hope he is competitive.

I think your “probably” should be “most definitely” a step up for a 17 year old player ranked below 700!

[arjun2761]

But over the last 2-3 months, he’s been competitive against 400-500 level players, so he may be competitive against Nardi although he doesn’t have much chance of winning. Should be a good experience for him!

[Sabha124639W]

But over the last 2-3 months, he’s been competitive against 400-500 level players, so he may be competitive against Nardi although he doesn’t have much chance of winning. Should be a good experience for him!

Manas has a chance against Nardi because Nardi is weak in high-altitude clay!!

[Atithee]

^^ Any data to support your assertion about weakness in high-altitude clay please?

[ericcw]

Luca Nardi was stunned by Ramkumar Ramanathan in Bengaluru

[sameerph]

^^^ Ramkumar has been ranked in top 125 before, so even though he was not ranked at that level when he played Nardi in Bengaluru challenger, on a given day he can pull off an upset of this level. He also has a big serve which helps in that.

As of now, Manas in only 17 and his career best win is against player ranked 378. So, at his best he has shown that he can play at 300-400 level. Nardi is ranked #100. Manas will have to play way above the level he has shown so far or Nardi has to play badly for this upset to happen.

Better not to keep any expectations of this happening. If he keeps it relatively competitive, I will be happy and it will be good exposure for him for his future.

[PKBasu]

I would love to see one of our players in Jr GSs again. So long since we had people who actually won them.

I think LP is the last one to win a junior grand slam singles title. But that was back some 34 years ago. I just want to see somebody threatening to make the QF or SF. Even that has not happened in a long time, maybe since Yuki made the AO semifinal [EDIT: He won the title, as Sameer pointed out below. I had forgotten that]

Ouch, Jay! Yuki Bhambri won the AO junior singles title in 2009, aged 16 years and 6 months old (a month after he had won the Orange Bowl under-18 singles title). He didn't play the FO or Wimbledon juniors that year -- absolutely bizarre -- but made the QF in singles at the USO juniors, beating Jack Sock in R3 but losing to Chase Buchanan in the QF. (He also won silver at the Youth Olympic Games the next year, beating Damir Dzhumur in the SF).

[PKBasu]

I think it's premature for Manas to be playing Masters qualifiers (he should be playing Challengers qualifiers first ). But, given all the hard yards he's put in playing M25 qualifiers, perhaps he'll do well against Nardi with no pressure (and no exhaustion from having played a slew of matches before this one this week).