Ogorodov prevails over Fazaluddin

AHMEDABAD, FEB 21: If a publisher was searching for a writer to pen How to dig your grave, the hunt would have ended at the AGETA courts o...

AHMEDABAD, FEB 21: If a publisher was searching for a writer to pen How to dig your grave, the hunt would have ended at the AGETA courts on Monday. Syed Fazaluddin8217;s harakiri against top seed Oleg Ogorodov of Uzbekistan in the first round of the Bharat Petroleum Challenger tennis tournament showcased the need of paste a fragile8217; tag on Indian players8217; forehead.After squandering two set points in the first set, Fazaluddin messed up two beginner-level overhead forehand shots close to the net in the tie-breaker to help Ogorodov advance.

Before Fazaluddin8217;s 6-7 5, 3-6 defeat, the other first round Indian casualties included Prahlad Srinath and Vishaal Uppal. Srinath lost to Joao Cunha Silva of Protugal 2-6, 0-6 which came after Uppal8217;s 1-6, 0-6 loss to Jeff Coetzee of South Africa. Vadim Kutsenko made it a double delight for Uzbekistan as the fifth seed scored a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Nicolaus Coutelot of France.

The first full service break came about in the 13th game of the Fazaluddin-Ogorodov match. Theinitial part of the match highlighted the fact that in terms of court skills, the two were on par. So it all boiled to the choke factor. Fazaluddin showed signs of the said mental flaw after he squandered a 6-5, 40-15 lead. Further proof was provided by the overhead goof up in the tie-breaker which saw Ogorodov win the the first set.

With an imperfect past, the future was tense. The second set saw mutual breaks in the third and fourth games but Ogorodov sustained pressure to break Fazaluddin again in the eighth game and pocket the set 6-3.

Manoj Mahadevan and Rishi Sridhar lost to N Thomann and F Volandri 3-6, 2-6 in the doubles main draw.

Results: Joao Cunha-Silva bt Prahlad Srinath 6-2, 6-0; Oleg Ogorodov bt Syed Fazaluddin 7-6 5, 6-3; Jeff Coetzee by Vishal Uppal 6-1, 6-0; Vadim Kutsenko bt Nicolas Coutelot 7-5, 6-4; Behr Noam bt Marcos Roy 6-2, 3-0 retired.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More