Indian singles challenge fizzles out at Challengers

LUCKNOW, FEB 9: Syed Fazaluddin crashed out to Noam Behr of Israel in straight sets while Mustafa Ghouse and Vishal Uppal also fell at th...

LUCKNOW, FEB 9: Syed Fazaluddin crashed out to Noam Behr of Israel in straight sets while Mustafa Ghouse and Vishal Uppal also fell at the first hurdle in doubles as Indian players continued to have a disappointing run in the ATP Tour Tennis Challenger here today.

Davis cupper Fazaluddin, the last Indian hope in the singles event after the ouster of Prahlad Srinath and Vijay Kannan on the opening day yesterday, lost 4-6 2-6 to Behr. Ghouse-Uppal lost to Spanish pair Juan Carrasco and Jamie Velasco 4-6 4-6 without putting much of a fight.

Also out of the fray was second seed Tomas Berhrend of Germany, the favourite after the loss of top seed Marcos Ondruska. Berhrend lost a first round thriller 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 7-5 to Spaniard Juan Carrasco.

Story continues below this ad

But fifth seed Eyal Ran of Isreal scrapped through to join compatriot Behr and Amir Hadad in the pre-quarter finals.

Eyal ran came back strongly after losing the first set to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 against Nuno Marques of Portugal, while Hadad defeated Michael Russell of the United States in three sets, 3-6 6-1 6-4.

South Africa’s Wesley Whitehouse, last year’s junior Wimbledon champion, subdued American Andrew Rueb 6-4 6-4 while fourth seed Mose Navarra overcame a set deficit to beat Barry Cowan (Britain) and seventh seed Peter Tramacchi of Australia prevailed over Emanuel Couto of Portugal, 7-5 7-6 (7/5).

RESULTS

Men’s Singles: Noam Behr (Israel) bt Syed Fazaluddin (ind) 6-4 6-2; Amir Hadad (Israel) bt Michael Russel (US) 3-6 6-1 6-4; Wesley Whitehouse (SA) bt Andrew Rueb (US) 6-4 6-4; Eyal Ran (Israel) bt Nuno Marques (Port) 4-6 6-3 6-4.

SP leader Azam Khan walks out of jail after 23 months, hundreds of supporters welcome him

Cities13 min ago

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is facing multiple cases, walked out of the Sitapur jail today after 23 months. He was scheduled to be released early Tuesday morning, but it was delayed due to impending court proceedings. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Sitapur jail, waiting for the SP leader to walk out of prison.

View all shorts

Live Blog