Walk in the park for Somdev

Ze had served big and put his powerful forehand to good use during his win against Chiudinelli but there was something amiss right away, as the 23-year old double-faulted early and netted a volley with the court gaping to concede a break in the first service game of the match.

Somdev later said that he had only an inkling that Ze was not perhaps 100 per cent because his opponent had not served with any zest. Somdev proceeded to take the pace out of his shots, preferring instead to keep the ball in play until the opponent erred. This strategy bore disproportionately large dividends, and Somdev was up 5-0 in no time. It soon emerged that Ze was in some trouble as he called the trainer on to the court.

Playing an injured opponent is never straightforward and Somdev dropped his serve right after the time out. Though Ze held his to close the gap a little bit, Somdev was still two breaks to the good. He served the set out without much difficulty but Ze found it impossible to continue and informed the chair umpire.

The seeded players did not face much difficulty else where too. Top seed Aleksandr Nedovyesov beat Lucas Pouille 6-2, 6-4 while winner of the Kolkata Challenger Ilija Bozoljac also triumphed in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(7) against Illya Marchenko. Fourth seed Evgeny Donskoy beat Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2 in another quarterfinal clash.

The Ratiwatana twins stood in the way of an all-Indian doubles final when they beat Jeevan Nedunchezhian and Vishnu Vardhan 3-6, 6-3, 10-7. In the other semifinal, wildcards Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh upset fourth seed Adrian Mendez-MacEiras and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-3, 6-2.

Spirited show by Ankita

In the women’s singles quarterfinals, India’s number one player Ankita Raina put up a spirited fight against third seed Yulia Beygelzimer from Ukraine as she saved three match points before losing 3-6 5-7 in two hours and five minutes on court number one. Ankita did not lack in her effort but had an experienced rival, currently ranked 180 but once world number 83, who was well attuned to play according to situation. Ankita played with a lot of conviction but tried too hard and consequently made errors on crucial points.

Ankita, 285th ranked, managed to hold her serve only four times out of 11 service games. But most of the time she fell back, she managed to break Yulia back.

It did not happen when she was down 3-4, despite having a breakpoint which she earned with a stunning backhand winner. Yulia was struggling with her first serve but managed to hold for a 5-3 lead. Serving to stay in the set, Ankita hit a forehand on to the net to be down by two set points. Yulia could capitalise on none, hitting unforced errors. The Ukrainian earned herself a third set point with a forehand winner and converted with a similar shot.

Ankita got an early break in the second set but let go the advantage by dropping her serve in the second game. Another break of serve saw her trail 2-4 but her persistence paid as she broke back and held her own for 4-4.

A forehand error following a long rally had Ankita facing her first match point but saved it with a backhand winner, her most impressive and consistent shot. Yulia failed to capitalise on the second match point and Ankita held to make it 5-5, keeping her alive in the contest.

The Indian was again serving to stay in the match. Yulia smashed an overhead volley after a superb rally to get her third match point but hit her backhand out, going for a winner.

Three consecutive errors ended Ankita’s campaign in the 12th game as she netted a low ball, hit a forehand long and buried a backhand to the net.

(With PTI inputs)