Mumbai: Two-time champion Yuki Bhambri will miss this edition of the $50K KPIT-MSLTA Men’s ATP Challenger Tennis Tournament at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune from November 17 to 24. Bhambri who was in top 100 had defeated Ramkumar Ramanathan in the final last year. He has finished his season early and is focusing on his rehab. Yuki had won the first tournament in 2015 in Pune.
“Yuki Bhambri has sent a message that he’s withdrawing because he hasn’t completely recovered from injury. It’s a big loss for him,” said Sunder Iyer, secretary of the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association at a press conference here.
In his absence, Indian Davis Cuppers Ramkumar, ranked 121 and Prajnesh Gunneswaran, 142, will spearhead the Indian challenge. Prajnesh was runner-up to Sadio Doumbia of France in 2016.
These two are the lone Indians in the direct list of entries (cut off at ATP rank 280) who will be joined by four wild cards, four qualifiers and two special exempts.
The qualifying rounds are to take place on the first two days followed by the men’s singles main draw of 32 starting on November 19.
Moldavian Radu Albot, the lone top 100 player in the list of direct entrants with an ATP ranking of 86, will be the top seed in the singles main draw.
All top top doubles players, barring Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan, will be in the men’s doubles draw according to organisers. Apart from the main tournament, a wheelchair tennis event will also be conducted.
The singles winner will take home $7,200 ('5.25 lakh) and gain 80 ATP points while the runner-up will pocket $4,053 ('2.95 lakh) and 55 ATP points.
The top 12 in the main draw (with their countries and ATP rankings in brackets): 1. Radu Albot (MDA, 86), 2. Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND, 121), 3. Elias Ymer (SWE, 132), 4. Marc Polmans (AUS, 137), 5. Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND, 142); 6. Jay Clarke (GBR, 175), 7. Hirok Mariya (JPN, 187), 8. Andrej Martin (SVK, 189), 9. Duckhee Lee (KOR, 193), Brayden Shnur (CAN, 211), 11. James Ward (GBR, 213), Scott Griekspoor (NED, 221).
