Saketh pockets first big trophy

New Delhi: Saketh Myneni clinched his maiden ATP Challenger level singles title after getting the better of Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Nedovyesov in a hard-fought three setter at the Indore Open on Sunday.The 26-year-old Saketh, ranked 451st, showed a lot of character against the top seed Kazakh player to post a 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 victory in the final that lasted a little over two hours.

With this victory, Saketh who won a gold and a silver in the doubles events at the Incheon Asian Games — earned 80 points in the ATP rankings.

Nedovyesov started on a positive note, getting 80 per cent of his first serves right in the opening set, even as Saketh mixed up his serves to keep his opponent on his toes. And the only time Nedovyesov faltered in the set, Saketh capitalised on the breakpoint to run away with it 6-3. The second set saw Saketh serving seven aces, but the world no. 118 Kazakh fought hard to stay alive in the contest, as he saved three breakpoints to take the set to a tie-break.

Saketh dominated most of the the final set. However, serving for the match at 5-3 (40-15) in the final set, the Indian showed signs of nervousness as he let go of both the match points allowing his opponent to draw deuce for the first time in the set.The Indian then managed to hit an ace to set up yet another chance for himself but he subsequently conceded two more match points before finally wrapping it up.