Tennis player Myneni in AirAsia Open quarters

Indian third seed Saketh Myneni faced a few challenges from Australian Dane Propoggia before prevailing 6-4, 7-6 (9) to move into the last eight of the AirAsia Open, $50,000 Challenger tennis event at the KSLTA here on Wednesday.

In another match, fifth seed Yannick Mertens of Belgium staved off the challenge of Wild Card entrant, current Jr Wimbledon Doubles Champion, Sumit Nagal.

Top seed Adrian Menendez-Maceiras watched qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India take a set off him before he rallied back to move into the quarters with a hard fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory.

The match between Myneni and Propoggia saw the first set going the Indian's way. Myneni broke the Australian in the sixth and 10th games after he was broken in the fifth to clinch the first set 6-2 in just 35 minutes.

However, the Aussie clawed back in telling fashion when he began to match the big servng Indian. Myneni broke Propoggia in the second game of the second set to gain the advantage.

But with the Aussie, ranked 443 in the world improving with every point, Myneni was broken in the seventh to take the games back with serves.

The ensuing tie-breaker turned out to be a humdinger with neither player wilting to the pressure that was building up.

However, the 166 ranked Myneni brought his experience to the fore, clinching the set and match with two points that stunned his rival.