Tata Open Maharashtra: Teenager Manas Dhamne impresses regardless of loss on ATP Tour debut

Younger Manas Dhamne had a formidable ATP Tour primary draw debut regardless of a 2-6, 4-6 loss to USA’s Michael Mmoh within the opening spherical of the Tata Open Maharashtra on the Balewadi Stadium on Monday.

Awarding Manas, who turned 15 final week, a wildcard entry into the primary draw did elevate a couple of eyebrows, however the native boy stood as much as the problem towards an opponent who was 9 years older and bodily stronger than him.

A 15-shot opening rally, which ended with Manas hitting a forehand down the road and discovering the nook on the baseline, set the tone for the entertaining fixture, which went on for an hour and 28 minutes.

“The primary level was actually essential. I needed to play the primary level within the first sport very solidly and never miss, and I performed the sport that approach. The primary level calmed me down slightly bit and the nervousness went away,” mentioned Manas within the post-match press convention.

Whereas Mmoh had the benefit of an even bigger serve (Mmoh’s first serve speeds have been near 200 km/h as in comparison with Manas’ 175 km/h) and duly earned numerous free factors, Manas did handle to indicate flashes of brilliance in between. Two of these got here within the fourth sport itself.

First, he executed the mix of a drop shot drawing Mmoh in the direction of the online adopted by a crunch crosscourt backhand cross to make it 15-all. Then, at 40-Advert, he hit a crosscourt backhand drop shot winner, which had the 6’2” American smiling.

Within the second set, Manas was down 1-5 earlier than launching a surprising counter-attack to win 12 of the following 15 factors and make it 4-5.

Nonetheless, Mmoh managed to tug issues again simply in time and, regardless of being 0-30 down, served it out efficiently for a spot within the second spherical.

Manas performed clear tennis, not committing even a single double fault. Nonetheless, the shortage of expertise was seen when he couldn’t convert two breakpoint alternatives within the first set and allowed Mmoh to virtually run away with the second.

‘No stress’

Manas, who trains at Piatti Tennis Heart in Bordighera, Italy, and performed his first senior degree match at a Challenger occasion in the identical nation, mentioned he didn’t really feel any stress going into the match.

“I had no expectations as a result of I didn’t know what the match can be like. I’ve by no means performed with any of those guys earlier than. I simply needed to go on the courtroom and play as I play and that was the one factor in my thoughts,” mentioned Manas, ranked 80 in ITF Junior World Rankings.

The boy from Satara even felt that he had sufficient power left had the match gone to a 3rd set.

Whereas Argentina’s Franco Davin 38-year-old document of being the youngest participant ever to win an ATP Tour primary draw match lives one other day, Manas did present some promise to cherish.