Tata Open Maharashtra: Indian singles problem ends with out solitary success

The Indian singles problem on the Tata Open Maharashtra ended with out a solitary success story as Ramkumar Ramanathan and Mukund Sasikumar adopted Manas Manoj Dhamne and Sumit Nagal out of the match, on the Balewadi Stadium right here on Tuesday.

Whereas Ramkumar was overwhelmed by Spain’s Pedro Martinez – World No. 62 and an ATP tour titlist in 2022 (Santiago, clay) – 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, Mukund, India’s top-ranked singles participant, fell to a dispiriting 4-6, 5-7 loss to Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

However the afternoon began extra with a bang than a whimper. On an outdoor courtroom, underneath the blazing afternoon solar, Ramkumar held the higher hand for a set and a half. Together with his net-rushing recreation, he shortened factors to his liking at the same time as Martinez tried to rally and take a look at the Indian’s persistence.

It was to Ramkumar’s credit score that he wasn’t set off completely happy, and even unleashed a number of winners from his historically weak backhand wing.

Nevertheless, the mixed lack of three breakpoints within the third and fifth video games of the second set shifted momentum. Martinez refocused and performed just about flawless tennis thereafter.

The Spaniard earned his first alternative to degree the competition within the twelfth recreation, courtesy an incredible move and a positive stretched cross-court return. A double-fault from Ramkumar gave him the set.

Within the third, Ramkumar had no reply to Martinez’s whipped forehands and deep returns at his shoelaces as he fell behind 2-5. He let his friends, who had lined as much as watch him, know that his opponent was “lacking nothing, not even half a ball.” Martinez proved it, but once more, with a wonderful drop volley to finish the match.

Like Ramkumar, Mukund too began brightly towards Cobolli, with early breaks in each units. However the 20-year-old qualifier was unruffled and lifted his degree a few notches to triumph.

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“It’s not over with only a break of serve,” Mukund stated later. “Opponents at this degree will hold combating again. I handled it [the break] as simply one other recreation and as anticipated he didn’t drop his degree, however in actual fact raised it.”

There was nevertheless some comfort for Ramkumar in a while as he teamed up with Mexican Miguel Reyes-Varela to oust Rohan Bopanna and Netherlands’ Botic Van de Zandschulp 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), [11-9].