AirAsia Open: Saketh Myneni loses singles semis but wins doubles title with Sanam Singh

Bengaluru: The Indian doubles pair of Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh claimed the title in the AirAsia Open $50,000 Challenger tennis event with a hard fought 5-7, 6-4, 10-2 victory over wild card entrants John Paul Fruttero of the United States and Indian Vijay Sundar Prashanth here on Saturday.

The second seeds lost the first set after being broken in the 11th game and the unseeded pair served out for the set. However, Saketh and Sanam raised the level of their games and despite the opponents trading service games early, held sway over their opponents.

With John and Vijay serving to stay in the set, some brilliant returns and volleys by the opposition saw the unseeded pair facing two break points.

They saved one but Saketh and Sanam combined to convert the second to pocket the set.

The Super-tie-breaker saw the second seeds racing away to a 4-1 lead which they kept stretching, allowing them just one point more to pocket the winner’s cheque of $3100. John and Vijay had to be content with the finalist’s purse of $1800.

However, third seed Saketh lost in the men's singles semi-finals to Spanish top seed Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 4-6, 4-6.

In the title showdown, Adrian will take on second seed James Ward of Britain, who rallied from a set deficit to quell the challenge of unseeded American Daniel Nguyen 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Results:
Doubles final: (2) Saketh Myneni (Ind) / Sanam Singh (Ind) bt (WC) John Paul Fruterro (USA) / Vijay Sundar Prashanth (Ind) 5-7, 6-4, 10-2.

Singles (Semi-finals): (1) Adrian Menendez-Maceiras (Esp) bt (3) Saketh Myneni (Ind) 6-4, 6-4; (2) James Ward (GBR) bt Daniel Nguyen (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.