India Open: Taufik saves matchpoint to beat Kashyap
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) Former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia saved a matchpoint to beat home favourite and fifth seed Parupalli Kashyap in a nail-biting men's singles first round contest of the $200,000 India Open Super Series here Wednesday.
Taufik won 13-21, 23-21, 21-18 in exactly an hour at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. The Indonesian said he tried to stay focussed when he was match point down in the second game.
"When I was match point down in the second game, I did not think I would win the match. At that time I was thinking, if I lose it will be okay but I just tried to focus which helped me to win three straight points and level the match. Kashyap is a good player but today he was not so lucky," he said.
Taufik said he always enjoys the Indian hospitality.
"It is always nice playing here in India. I get a lot of support which I enjoy. Even today a lot of people supported me in spite of playing against (Parupalli) Kashyap who is from India," he said.