BANGALORE, JANUARY 20: Viktor Bruthans had once lost to Radim Zitko when they played for the same country — Czechoslovakia — in a junior tournament. On Thursday, Bruthans, playing for Slovakia, exacted revenge when he shut out seventh seed Zitko of the Czech Repbulic to enter the semifinals of the Wearhouse-Century Club ITF Futures men’s tennis championships.
The unassuming Bruthans, down 1-5 in the final set, survived three match points before winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 in a 112-minute battle.
Nitin Kirtane, the lone Indian entry in the quarter-finals, fizzled out in over 40 minutes when he lost to Denis Golovanov of Russia 1-6, 2-6.
However, Nitin alongwith cousin Sandeep, won over the Russian pair of Denis Golovanov and Ivanov Smolenski 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-3) to reach the doubles last four stage. They became the second Indian pair to achieve this after top-seeded Prahlad Srinath and Saurav Panja.
Fourth seeded Boris Borgula of Slovakia defeated fifth seed Israeli Andy Ram 7-5, 6-4 to become the only seeded player in the semi-final.
Results (all quarter-finals, prefix indicates seeding)
Singles: Viktor Bruthans (Svk) bt 7-Radim Zitko (Cze) 6-2, 1-6, 7-5; Denis Golovanov (Rus) bt Nitin Kirtane 6-1, 6-2; 4-Boris Borgula (Svk) bt 5-Andy Ram 7-5, 6-4; Kobi Ziv (Isr) bt Arne Kreitz (Ger) 6-4, 6-4.
Doubles (quarters): 3-Miles Macalagan (Grb)/Aisam Qureshi (Pak) bt Ravikiran Bhat/Nirmit Shetty (Ind) 6-4, 6-0; 2-Nitin/Sandeep Kirtane bt Denis Golovanov (Rus)/Ivanov Smolenski 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-3).
Semi-final line-up (Singles): Viktor Bruthans (Svk) vs Denis Golovanov (Rus); 4-Boris Borgula (Svk) vs Kobi Ziv.
Doubles: 3-Miles Macalagan (Grb)/Aisam Uureshi (Pak) vs Nitin/Sandeep Kirtane (Ind); Prahlad Srinath/Saurav Panja (Ind) vs Andy Ram/Nir Welgreen (Isr).