Air Asia Open: Sanam Singh scripts big upset; Somdev Devvarman, Saketh Myneni advance

Bengaluru: While unseeded Indian Sanam Singh scripted the biggest Air Asia Open upset by trouncing tournament eighth seed Germain Gigounon of Belgium in straight sets, India's ace Davis Cupper Somdev Devvarman and Saketh Myneni, won their respective match to stormed into the second round of the event at the KSLTA courts here today.

Singh, ranked 279, won the first set after bit of a battle 6-4, but shunted out his opponent in 20 minutes in the second set, winning the set and the match 6-0.

Singh smashed five aces on his way to break Gigounon thrice in the deciding set, before pocketing the match.

Somdev, in the first set, faced some anxious moments, but overcame them by winning 6-4, before clinching the match against Austrian Maximillian Neuchrist, winning the second set 6-3.

Having not enjoyed the best of years on the circuit, Somdev said, ?It has been a tough year. I have been working hard and have been staying fit. I have had a lot of close contests and have lost more than I have won this year."

When asked whether he felt there was a problem with his game, Somdev said, ?I have won two Challenger events this year. In the past I have won one. The level of tennis is there. I have struggled to get past the first round in most of the events. I take time to settle down and when I am in the quarters or semis, I begin playing well. Now that I have gone past the first round here, I hope things fall in place and I get going."

Vietnam Challenger title-holder Myneni outwitted Serbia's Nikola Milojevic 6-3, 7-6.

Tournament second seed James Ward of Great Britain easily demolished the lucky loser Lakshit Sood of India with 6-1, 6-1 score.

Sumit Nagal, the 2015 Junior Wimbledon doubles title winner, given a wildcard, raced past compatriot qualifier Sidarth Rawat 6-4, 6-3.

In doubles competition, the third seed pair of Dane Propoggia (Aus) and Ti Chen (Tpe) along with Spanish fourth seeds Adrian Menendez-Maceiras and Gerard Granollers moved into the quarter-finals with comfortable victories.

Results: (prefix denotes seedings):

Singles: (1st round): (WC) Sumit Nagal (Ind) bt (Q) Sidharth Rawat (Ind) 6-4, 6-3; Alessandro Bega (Ita) bt Maxime Janvier (Fra) 6-2, 6-4; Daniel Nguyen (USA) bt Stephane Robert (Fra) 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-5; (4) Somdev DevVarman (Ind) bt Maximillan Neuchrist (Aut) 6-4, 6-3; Sanam Singh (Ind) bt (8) Germain Gigounon (Bel) 6-4, 6-0; (2) James Ward (GBR) bt (LL) Lakshit Sood (Ind)6-1, 6-1; (3)Saketh Myneni (Ind) bt Nikola Milojevic (Srb) 6-3, 7-6 (4); Agor Gerasimov (Blr) bt Ramkumar Ramnathan (Ind) 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4; Ilya Ivashka (Blr) bt (WC) Vishnu Vardhan (Ind) 7-6 (5), 6-1; (7) Alexander Kudryavtsev (Rus) bt Michal Konecny (Cze) 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles: Pre-quarters: (3) Dane Propoggia (Aus) / Ti Chen (Tpe) bt Arthur De Greef (Bel) / Stephane Robert (Fra) 6-2, 6-2; Alessandro Bega (Ita) / Daniel Nguyen (USA) bt Germain Gigounon (Bel) / Yannick

Mertens (Bel) 6-2, 6-0; (4) Gerard Granollers (Esp) / Adrian Menendez-Maceiras (Esp) bt Purav Raja (Ind) / James Ward (GBR) 6-4, 6-3; (WC) John Paul Fruttero (USA) / N Vijay Sundar Prashanth bt Nikola Milojevic (Srb) / Ramkumar Ramnathan (Ind) 6-3, 6-2.