US Challengers 2021

[sameerph]

We will have this one thread to discuss the challengers in US now and during US hardcourt season. This week, Mukund is playing singles in a challenger in Little Rock and Purav/Jeevan are back together playing doubles.

At Little Rock Challenger 80, USA

[R1] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,326) vs. (7) Roberto Cid Subervi (DOM,238)

Cid Subervi appears an incosistent player who is losing a lot these days but suddenly goes on a run for a week as he did to the SF of a Florida Challenger in March. Mukund had not won anything at challenger level since covid break. So, it will be a challenging match.

Jeevan and Purav are back together in doubles.

[R1] (3) Jeevan Neduncheziyan (IND) / Purav Raja (IND) vs. Christopher Eubanks (USA) / Roberto Quiroz (ECU)

Mukund plays his first match on Monday.

[sameerph]

Mukund starts with an impressive upset win.

At Little Rock Challenger 80, USA

[R1] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,326) d. (7) Roberto Cid Subervi (DOM,238) 63 64

He will play the winner of Ryan Harrison and Goncalo Oliveira.

[jayakris]

Ataboy, Mukund!

[Atithee]

Mukund starts with an impressive upset win.

At Little Rock Challenger 80, USA

[R1] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,326) d. (7) Roberto Cid Subervi (DOM,238) 63 64

He will play the winner of Ryan Harrison and Goncalo Oliveira.

This is a great result. I hope he becomes the “in form” player that other forums like ours discuss in consoling themselves.

[Rajiv]

This is a very good confidence boosting win .. Well played Mukund.

[prasen9]

It is very hard for a 300-er to keep winning in such challengers. 1-2 wins at max is what I think may be a great result. Are there really national sports boards that discuss challenger results? I know of Men's Tennis Forum but that collects people from all countries.

[Atithee]

There could be a Sports-Dominica Community forum like ours.

[jaydeep]

Excellent win ... After very longtime Mukund has a win over the top-250 player.

[sameerph]

It is very hard for a 300-er to keep winning in such challengers. 1-2 wins at max is what I think may be a great result. Are there really national sports boards that discuss challenger results? I know of Men's Tennis Forum but that collects people from all countries.

Not sure about others but there is a very active tennis forum in Britain where they discuss challenger and futures level results of British players.

Next,

At Little Rock Challenger 80, USA

[R2] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,326) vs. Goncalo Oliveira (POR,317)

This match will be played on Wednesday.

[PKBasu]

Nice to see Mukund pull off a win over a seeded player. All the hard work (and seeming futility) of those Futures in far-away places have finally started paying off. It's a great opportunity to do well in a Challenger when many of the 100-200 ranked players have moved to Europe for the FO and other clay Challengers.

[suresh]

At the end of the day, it is only a first round win. Mukund needs to string a few wins in a row starting with R2. Our players never seem to do that.

[PKBasu]

It is very hard for a 300-er to keep winning in such challengers. 1-2 wins at max is what I think may be a great result. Are there really national sports boards that discuss challenger results? I know of Men's Tennis Forum but that collects people from all countries.

Not sure about others but there is a very active tennis forum in Britain where they discuss challenger and futures level results of British players.

Next,

At Little Rock Challenger 80, USA

[R2] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,326) vs. Goncalo Oliveira (POR,317)

This match will be played on Wednesday.

Mukund has played Goncalo Oliveira once before (at the Kaohsiung Challenger in Sept 2019) and beat him in a 3-setter (Mukund winning both tiebreaks). I hope he repeats the win, more easily preferably!

[PKBasu]

Another win for Mukund, this time in doubles (a surprise):

[R1] Alt-Sasikumar Mukund/M Pervolarakis (IND/GRE) d. R Gonzales/M Redlicki (COL/USA) 62 76(3)


It's always good to get into the winning habit.

[sameerph]

Goncalo takes his revenge against Mukund.

At Little Rock Challenger 80, USA

[R2] Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND,326) l. Goncalo Oliveira (POR,317) 64 46 26

Watched the first 2 sets and Mukund looked on top and Olivera frustrated till middle of second set. But, after that Mukund played a loose service game serving at 4-4 and that gave a least of life to Oliveira. Did not watch the third set but looked like in third set Olivera dominated.

Mukund needs to take these few opportunities which he is getting now to play in the main draw of challengers.

Jeevan and Bala also lost in first round.

[R1] (3) Jeevan Nedunzheziyan (IND) / Purav Raja (IND) l. Christopher Eubanks (USA) / Roberto Quiroz (COL) 57 26

[PKBasu]

Mukund should have won this. Wasted the R1 upset.