Chennai: Home sensation and wild card entrant Yuki Bhambri today sprung a surprise by upsetting higher-rated Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain to enter the second round of the ATP Chennai Open, here.
Yuki, ranked 195 in the world, took 76 minutes to stun 64th ranked Busta 6-4 6-3 in the opening round to set up a clash against third seed Fablo Fognini of Italy in the pre-quarterfinals.
Yuki, in all probability, will make the quarterfinals without taking the court as his next opponent, Fogini, who was partnering Indian ace Leander Pace, has pulled out from the men's doubles event due to a strain in his left leg.
A statement from the orgainsers read that Fogini has withdrawn from the doubles event due to a injury and he was being monitored by the doctors.
But it has been learnt that Fogini would take a call on his participation in the singles event by tomorrow evening.
In a day of upsets, Russian qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev sent packing eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in a long 107-minute tussle.
Kudryavtsev beat the 58th ranked Spaniard 6-4 3-6 6-3 and will now play Slovakian Aljaz Bedene in the next round.
Yuki, a rising star in Indian tennis, was at his attacking best today and concentrated on playing to his strength. He was was broken only once in the match.
Yuki, who made the prequarterfinals last year too, lost to ultimate winner Janko Tipsarevic.
Today's showing was a proof that the Indian Davis Cupper had improved a lot in all respects of his game, mainly his physique and fitness levels.
Yuki, who has been regular to this event since 1997, kept up his game and never panicked during tough situations.
"My forehand worked very well today and it has been my strength. I decided to keep the ball in play during rallies before going for winners," he said after the win.
As the match started, Yuki broke Busta in the third game but was broken back. He then broke the Italian in the ninth game to pocket the opening set.
In the second set, Yuki maintained his form and never surrendered the initiative.
Yuki was so focussed that he managed to serve a couple of aces in the second set to rattle his rival.
After Yuki broke the Italian in the third game, the set went on service games before the Indian pocketed the match.
The other singles matches on the second day of the tournament went on expected lines as higher-rated players entered the second round.
Edwuard Roger Vasselin of France, a regular to this tournament and ranked 52, had little difficulty in disposing off Spaniard Albert Ramos 6-1 6-3, while Slovakian Aljaz Bedene dropped the second set before getting the better of qualifier Hendri Laaksonen of Switzerland 6-3 5-7 7-6(7).
Youzhny not thinking about title
Youzhny not thinking about title
Chennai: World No. 15 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia today said that his is not thinking too far ahead and wants to take it match by match to realise his hopes of claiming his second Chennai Open title.
"Dudi Sela, I play him tomorrow", indicating that he would take it match by match.
"It is like yesterday when you come back to a venue after a long interval," the 2008 singles champion said about his return to Chennai.
"Like Stuttgart in 1995 where I won my first ATP Tour title, it's nice to come back to Chennai with happy memories of the 2008 final here".
"You have nice memories of such places when you come back", the Russian, known for his one-handed backhand, said.
On whether one-handed backhand was a dying shot in tennis these days, the 31-year-old said: "Now it is 50-50 with some players switching to double fisted backhand but I don't think the one-handed backhand will die."
On former ace Stephan Edberg coaching players, Youzhny, a great fan of Edberg, recalled his stint as one of the ball boys during a Davis Cup final.
"It was a great experience watching legends like Pete Sampras then, and see how they play," he added.
