Bahrain Challenger Nov 22 - Nov 28 ,2021

[sameerph]

One step at a time. RamK and Arjun also went thru doubles SF.

[QF] (4) Arjun Kadhe (IND)/ Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) d. Alexander Kozbinov (MDA) / Marek Gengel (CZE) 64 62

In singles QF, Ramk will play the Portugese.

[QF] (6) Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,222) vs. Goncalo Oliveira (POR,288)

[sameerph]

RamK tied 3-3 in third set in his QF. He won the first set 6-3 but lost the second 4-6. Only 1 break of serve in each set by RamK and Oliviers and not too many more breakpoints than that. It is really close.

[suresh]

[QF] (6) Ramkumar Ramanathan(IND, 222) d Goncalo Oliveira(POR, 288) 6-3 4-6 7-5

Ram was a break down in the final set at 3-5. Won four straight games to win the match.

(via ITD)

[sameerph]

Yes, watched the match till that point, 3-5 in third set and had to go out. What a surprise to see RamK come back and win this.

He is now 206 in live ranking. Win in next match will take him back into top 200. Will play the winner of 7th seed Jay Clarke and American Alexander Lazarov.

RamK-Arjun and Divij-Bala will be playing their doubles SF later.

[PKBasu]

RamK-Arjun lost their doubles SF 36 61 7-10 to Neuchrist-Pervolarakis.
Divij-Balaji lost their SF 46 26 to Cabral-Borges, ending the Indian challenge in doubles.

But what a great run by Ramkumar in the singles!!

[sameerph]

[SF] (6) Ramkumar Ramanathan(IND,222) vs. (7) Jay Clarke (GBR,231)

Head to head is 2-1 in favor of Clarke. But, last match in 2019 won by RamK.

[PKBasu]

To use a favourite phrase of Indian sports journalists from 30-40 years ago, a "ding-dong battle" is on:
.
[SF] 6-Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,222) vs. 7-Jay Clarke (GBR,231) 57 63 62

3rd set: Ramkumar breaks in the 3rd game to go up 2-1.
RamK holds easily for 3-1, then has a BP on Clarke's serve at 30-40. Converts!! 4-1
RamK holds at 15. 5-1!!
Clarke 0-15, 30-15, 40-15, game. 5-2
RamK serving for the match. And he storms through! Game, set and match!!
I think that's the 7th Challenger final of Ramkumar's career (and his second this year, after Cary in July; last year, he made one Challenger final in Eckental). Time for a title!

[Rajiv]

Pkb its his 7th Challenger's Final not 11th
Come On Ram !!!

[sameerph]

Yet another excellent comeback by RamK. After losing the first set, he was down a break 1-2 in second set. After that he won 11 of the next 13 games.

18 aces today for him and only 3 double faults.

[arjun2761]

Nice run by RamK! Time to get his first challenger title as predicted here on this forum.

[jayakris]

He will get his first title this week. We are all in agreement. Go Ram.

[Sanjay]

Jai Shri Ram!

We want the title!!

[Atithee]

Bahrain—Opponent is “bahar” and Ram is “in.” So, Ram should win.

[jayakris]

^^^ We are so desperate for a RamK title that we will take any reason for him to win!

[suresh]

Go RamK!

[F] (6) R. Ramanathan (IND, 222) vs E. Karlovskiy (RUS, 302)

Match is at 9:15pm IST (6:45pm local time)