Gian stops Saketh in first round at Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger

Bengaluru: While Arjun Kadhe brought cheer to the Indian camp by storming into the main round of the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger, wild card Saketh Myneni went down without a whimper against Italian Gian Marco Moroni in the opening round even as the number of Indians reduced to six from the 32 who vied for the title. Arjun faces fifth seed Altug Celikblek of Turkey in the first match on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in the other firstround matches played at the KSLTA courts here on Monday, fancied players – third seed Aleksandar Vukic of Australia and fourth seed Hugo Grenier of France marched into the pre-quarterfinals registering contrasting wins. While Aleksandar won over his countryman Jason Kubler 7-5, 6-4, Hugo dropped a set before beating Czech Vit Kopriva of 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.

Gian didn’t give a semblance of a chance as Saketh was found wrong-footed on many occasions to commit a number of unforced errors. Taking advantage of the error-prone Saketh, Gian almost blanked the lanky Indian in both the sets.

In a fast-paced game, Hugo dominated the first set with superb moves on the court and grabbed the first set even before his opponent could realise his mistakes. Stung by the reverse, Kopriva paid him back in the same coin taking the second 6-2. The decider saw both the players indulge in an intense battle where the better-ranked player pulled away at the fag end of the decider to clinch the issue.

Earlier, after another Indian Mukund Sasikumar lost to Borna Gojo of Croatia, Arjun with a strong forehand and good serves outplayed Austrian Alexander Erler 6-3, 6-4. The margin could have been wider but for some unforced errors by the Indian.

Results

Main Round (Round of 32) Gian Marco Moroni (ITA) bt WC-Saketh Myneni (IND) 6-1, 6-1; 3-Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) bt Jason Kubler (AUS) 7-5, 6-4; 4-Hugo Grenier (FRA) bt Vit Kopriva (CZE) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4; Chun-hsin Tseng (TPE) bt Jay Clarke (GBR) 6-3, 6-1; Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) bt Marc Polmans (AUS) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. Qualifying Round-2 Gabriel Decamps (BRA) bt 1- Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) 7-5, 6-4; Antoine Bellier (SUI) bt Steven Diez (CAN) 6-1, 6-3; 3-Borna Gojo (CRO) bt 8-Mukund Sasikumar (IND) 6-3, 6-2; Rio Noguchi (JPN) bt Raul Brancaccio (ITA) 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-5; 5-Malek Jaziri (TUN) bt Andrew Harris (AUS) 6-4, 6-4; Alt-Arjun Kadhe (IND) bt Alexander Erler (AUT) 6-3, 6-4.