Pune (Maharashtra) [India] February 27 (ANI): Local boy and Wildcard entrant Manas Dhamne’s sensational run on the Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 Men’s Tennis Championship got here to an finish on the Shiv Chhatrapati Kreeda Sankul, Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Stadium.
The 18-year-old squandered two match factors, happening to Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic in a tense battle on the Men’s Singles quarterfinals on Friday, based on a launch.
Duje Ajdukovic, the 25-year-old, who’s at present ranked 346, survived a stern problem from Indian wildcard Manas Dhamne to register a hard-earned 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 victory in a gripping contest that lasted 2 hours and 16 minutes.
The opening set noticed each gamers interact in fierce baseline exchanges. Ajdukovic struck first with a break within the third recreation, however Dhamne responded instantly to degree at 2-2.
The younger Indian raised the tempo within the sixth recreation, hammering aggressive returns to grab one other break earlier than confidently serving out the set 6-3.
Dhamne continued his momentum within the second set, breaking within the third recreation for a 2-1 lead. However, Ajdukovic mounted a decided comeback, breaking again within the eighth recreation to attract degree.
With neither participant conceding floor, the set was pushed right into a tense tie-break. The Croatian held his nerve, edging it 7-6 (8) to revive parity.
In the decider, Ajdukovic got here out firing, breaking within the very first recreation and consolidating with robust serves.
Dhamne fought again bravely with a break within the fourth recreation to maintain his hopes alive. However, Ajdukovic’s aggressive shot-making and clutch serving proved to be decisive as he secured one other break within the seventh recreation and closed out the set 6-4 to guide his semifinal berth.
Eighth seed Edas Butvilas of Lithuania delivered a composed 6-3, 6-3 win over qualifier Masamichi Imamura of Japan in 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Felix Gill scripted a outstanding turnaround to defeat qualifier Maks Kasnikowski of Poland 0-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1 in an thrilling battle that lasted 2 hours and 5 minutes.
Sixth seed Federico Cina from Italy was in management throughout his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Britain’s Alastair Gray to substantiate his spot within the semifinals.
In doubles semi-final motion, the Indo-Thai mixture of Pruchya Isaro and second seed Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha outplayed the third-seeded Japanese pair of Yuta Shimizu and Seita Watanabe, profitable 7-5, 7-6 (4) to enter the ultimate.
Top seeds Siddhant Banthia and Alexander Donski have been upset by the fourth-seeded pairing of Jisung Nam and Patrik Niklas-Salminen within the second semifinal. (ANI)