Nur-Sultan 2 Challenger, Kazakhstan, March 1-7 2021 (Indoor hard)

[sameerph]

After a good run to the semi final in first week of challengers in Kazakhstan, Prahnesh will also be playing here next week. But, as we discussed in his thread, he draws the same player whom he lost to this week.

RamK and Balaji also play here after travelling from Singapore.

[R1] (8) Pajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,138) vs. Jurij Rodionov ( AUT,152)

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,200) vs. Hugo Grenier (FRA,251)

Doubles-

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) / Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) vs. (2) Nathan Pasha (USA) / Max Schnur (USA)

[R1] N. Sriram Balaji (IND) / Blaz Rola (SVK) vs. Grigoriy Lomakin (KAZ) / Vladyslav Manafov (UKR)

[PKBasu]

Hopefully, Prajnesh will get the better of Rodionov next week after getting the extra rest between their last match and the next one (while his opponent is about to sweat it out in a tough final this afternoon). Ramkumar has a relatively good draw.

[sameerph]

Hopefully, Prajnesh will get the better of Rodionov next week after getting the extra rest between their last match and the next one (while his opponent is about to sweat it out in a tough final this afternoon). Ramkumar has a relatively good draw.

Rodionov was thrashed in the final within 1 hour. So, he won't be too tired due to this.

RamK has his singles match tomorrow.

[sameerph]

RamK started with a good 3 set win.

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,202) d. Hugo Grenier (FRA,253) 64 36 63

At least he has started beating players below top 200 consisently this year and avoiding first round losses. Hope he can now go further.

Next,

[R2] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND,202) vs. Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR, 179)

Silve upset third seed Kukushkin in first round. He also qualified into Australian open this year and streched eventual champion Mcdonald to third set tie break last week. So, this will be tough one for RamK.

[Dinesh]

Yes, good of RamK for getting through the first round hurdle. Him and FFS has met twice and the match went into a decider both the time favoring the Portuguese. Perhaps, this time RamK will change the odds, FFS!

[PKBasu]

Nice to see Ramkumar beating lower-ranked players consistently this year. He appears to have worked well on his game (including the mental side) during the time off last year.

[Dinesh]

Good news! Rodionov withdrew, so PG is facing lucky loser Julian Lenz from Germany (WR #255). Match is about to start. Let’s go!!!

[jayakris]

PG lost the first set 3-6 but is up a break 3-0 in the second.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh completed a 3 set win.

[R1] (8) Pajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,134) d. Julian Lenz (GER,255) 36 62 63

It looks like Prajnesh took some time to adjust but came back well.

Next,

[R2] (8) Pajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,134) vs. Tatsuma Ito (JPN,202)

Ito beat Prajnesh in Australian open main draw in 2020. But, hopefully in current form of both players, Prajnesh will avenge that defeat.

[Dinesh]

Prajnesh should be the clear favorite to win this 2nd round match. Ito should almost be considered a veteran, at this point. I wish RamK would also join him in the QF. Good luck to our boys!!

[Sanjay]

H2H

2020 Australian Open R128 Tatsuma Ito 64 62 75

PG will be looking to get revenge.

[sameerph]

Prajnesh should be the clear favorite to win this 2nd round match. Ito should almost be considered a veteran, at this point.

But, Ito is only a year older to Prajnesh at 32.

RamK had Silva as his doubles partner but they lost against second seeds.

[R1] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) / Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) l. (2) Nathan Pasha (USA) / Max Schnur (USA) 46 36

Tomorrow both Prajnesh and RamK with their R2 matches and Balaji with his first round doubles match.

[jayakris]

But, Ito is only a year older to Prajnesh at 32.

Many more miles on the tyres of the Toyota than of the Maruti though.

[PKBasu]

Yes, indeed the Toyota feels like a used car, the Maruti a new one with low mileage on the odometer.

[Dinesh]

Yikes! I didn’t really think of Prajnesh as someone older than 30, mostly because of his injury marred career (maybe some financial troubles, even?), I still consider him as someone who has a solid 3-4 years of top-120 level tennis to deliver. I hope he does!