$80K Orlando ATP Challenger, April 12-19, 2021

[sameerph]

They won.

[R1] Yuki Bhambri (IND) / Mathew Ebden (AUS) d. Denis Kudla (USA) / Thai-son Kwiatkpwski (USA) 76(5) 62

They took some time to settle down but it was smooth thereafter.

They play another American pair next.

[QF] Yuki Bhambri (IND) / Mathew Ebden (AUS) vs. Christian Harrison (USA) / Dennis Novikov (USA)

Harrison and Novikov upset the top seeds in first round.

On the other court, Zane Khan has taken the first set in tie break against second seed Uchiyama from Japan.

[sameerph]

Zane Khan beats 108th ranked second seed from Japan in 2 tie break sets.

[arjun2761]

Ebden/Yuki should be a pretty tough pair if they gel.

Zane Khan is clearly playing at a challenger level....

[Sanjay]

I am curious to know why this group follows Zane Khan.
Is he Indian?

[PKBasu]

Zane Khan is an American. But his mother is from Uttar Pradesh, and apparently he thinks of himself as Indian. There is not much clarity regarding his paternity yet, although one has heard he is "Brazilian". That wouldn't explain his surname. (Some have suggested his parents may be divorced, but that still doesn't explain how Zane and his twin brother Faris have had the surname Khan at least since their childhood; the two brothers met each other in the final of a couple of US under-12 national championships on two surfaces 7 years ago, Zane beating Faris in 3 sets on each occasion).

[sameerph]

Damn, Yuki and Ebden gave a walkover in doubles QF and reason in drawsheet says medical reason for Yuki.

[Dinesh]

Prajnesh lost the first set 6-3. Lost the 2nd 6-4.

[sameerph]

Yes, Prajnesh did not play that well today. Too many double faults and unforced errors. Sock was quite good.

[R2] Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND,138) l. Jack Sock (USA,257) 36 46

[Sanjay]

Jack Sock is actually a very good player. His best rank was No 8. His current ranking of around 250 is misleading because he had an injury layoff. Now that he is back, he is playing like a top 50 player and that is above PG's level. No shame in this loss though.

[sameerph]

I am not sure Jack Sock is playing like a top 50 player currently. He did not have a top 100 win in the 3 tournaments he has played this year so far. Yes, of course he is way better than his current ranking of 257 but probably at somewhere around 100-150 rank level. Lets us see how he goes further this week which will give further evidence as to what level he is playing at.

[sameerph]

Jack Sock lost to 327th ranked Christian Harrison in QF. So, he is clearly not playing at top 50 or maybe even top 100 level. I think Prajnesh should have done better against him.

Zane Khan lost in the QF against fellow American 232nd ranked Brooksby. Still that QF finish will move him upto inside top 550 in ATP rankings.