Somdev closes in to second successive ATP Masters series event

Mason: Somdev Devvarman progressed to second and final round of the ATP Western & Southern Financial Group Masters qualifying event with a straight-set win over World number 65 Marco Chiudinelli.

The unseeded Indian beat the seventh seed Swiss 6-3 7-6(3) in the opening round of the qualifiers. He will take on local wild card Tim Smyczek, who ousted ninth seed Ukranian Illya Marchenko 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in his first round match. Somdev had last week played in the Toronto Masters as a lucky loser and lost to Gael Monfils in the first round after giving the French a tough fight.India’s doubles specialists Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will play in the men’s doubles event along with their respective partners.PTI