Four-set loss ends Somdev’s Slam debut

“It was the first Slam one I qualified for and that’s a breakthrough in some ways. I played a slightly patchy match today,I could’ve done almost everything better. But I must give him credit,he maintained a pretty high level right through and showed why he’s ranked 23 in the world,” Devvarman told The Indian Express.

It took Devvarman three games before he could win his first point on Kohlschreiber’s serve,and giving away an early break made his job much tougher. He fought back by breaking the German’s serve in the seventh,but couldn’t hold on in the next game,letting Kohlschreiber serve out the opening set.

The second saw the world No 23 look decidedly more assured,with none of the close games of the first set bothering him as he went about his business. He got the only break he needed in the second game,and held off the Indian to make it two sets to love.

The third set zipped by in twenty-nine minutes,and surprisingly,it was only Devvarman who registered himself on the scoreboard,racing away to take it 6-0. The bagel’s sting may have spurred Kohlschreiber in the fourth set,however,as it was four games before he allowed Devvarman to get a number against his name. There was to be no redemption from that double break.

“I had chances against Philipp,and that is good. I should have broken him twice in the first set,and the story may have been different. I lost,but this was a high-quality match and I’m sure the people who were watching enjoyed it. The stands were packed and there were some cheering for me too,” said Devvarman,who will switch to Davis Cup mode in a couple of days.

Sania’s double win

Sania Mirza and Italian Francesca Schiavone,seeded 14th,survived a scare from unseeded Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus and Czech Renata Voracova before winning 5-7 7-5 6-1 to advance to the second round. Later,Sania teamed up with Canadian Daniel Nestor to beat Uzbek Akgul Amanmuradova and Aussie Ashley Fisher 6-3 6-1 in mixed doubles. Defending champions Leander Paes and Cara Black overcame Swiss Patty Schnyder and South Africa’s Wesley Moodie 6-4 3-6 11-9.

Third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles cruised to the men’s doubles second round after scoring a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over American James Cerretani and Lovro Zovko of Croatia.