Divij Sharan-Saketh Myneni pair ATP Izmir Cup

Izmir, Turkey: Divij Sharan and Saketh Myneni won their first title together this season when Malek Jaziri and Denis Molchanov opted out of the final, down a match point, in the ATP Izmir Cup, here.

The match was on even keel with two pairs splitting the first two sets. The Indians won the first set 7-6(5) before the second 4-6. In the match tie-breaker, the third seed Indians were up a match point at 9-8 when Tunisia's Jaziri took a medical break for pain in his ankle.

After a three-minute treatment he decided not to continue and retired from the match.

It was Sharan's second title and first for Myneni in the 2015 season in his third attempt. Myneni had ended runner-up at Honking event in January with compatriot Sanam Singh and at Shenzhen with Sharan.

The left-hander had captured a title with Ken Skupski in Guzzini (Italy) in July. He had also ended finalist with Hyeon Chung at Sarasota Open in April.

Both teams held serves in the first set and Indians won the tie-break 7-5.

Till 4-5 in the second set, Sharan and Myneni saved 11 out of 11 break points but got broken on the 12th, losing the set 4-6.

Interestingly, Jaziri and Molchanov won 12 more points than Myneni and Sharan and still ended up losing the match.

Myneni and Sharan have decided to continue their partnership and their next tournament will be in Agri, Turkey next week.