Somdev shocked at AirAsia Open tennis

Unseeded Italian Alessandro Bega ousted top seed Somdev DevVarman of India in straight sets to coast into the quarter finals of the AirAsia Open, $50,000 Challenger tennis tournament here on Thursday.

World No.331 Bega gave a stiff fight to world No.181 Somdev before getting the better of the Indian 7-6(7), 7-5 in a tight contest.

In another match, determination and a little luck saw Indian Sanam Singh making it to the last eight with a thrilling 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (6) victory over Egor Gerasimov of Belarus.

Second seed James Ward took his appointed place in the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 verdict over Ilya Ivashka of Belarus and American Daniel Nguyen ousted seventh seed Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev in two tie-break sets, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3).

The second seeded pair of Saketh Myneni and Sanam made short work of the Sood Brothers, Chandril and Lakshit to move into the semi-finals of the doubles competition with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Results:

Singles: Pre-quarter finals: Sanam Singh (Ind) bt Egor Gerasimov (Blr) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (6); (2) James Ward (GBR) bt Ilya Ivashka (Blr) 6-3, 6-4; Alessandro Bega (Ita) bt (4) Somdev DevVarman (Ind) 7-6(7), 7-5; Daniel Nguyen (USA) bt (7) Alexander Kudryavtsev (Rus) 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3).

Doubles: Quarter finals: (2) Saketh Myneni (Ind) / Sanam Singh (Ind) bt (WC) Chandril Sood (Ind) / Lakshit Sood (Ind) 6-2, 6-4; (4) Geraard Granollers (ESP) / Adrian Menendez-Maceiras (ESP) bt Allesandro Bega (Ita) / Daniel Nguyen (US) 6-4, 6-4.

--Indo-Asian New Service

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