India's Yuki Bhambri and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan cleared the first hurdle in the qualifying event of the ATP Chennai Open, scoring easy wins over their compatriots, here today.
Bhambri outplayed Siddharth Rawat 6-1 6-3 in his first round qualifying match of the USD 250,000 hard court event while left-handed Nedunchezhiyan defated Lakshit Sood 6-2 6-2.
Among other Indians reaching the second round were Vinayak Kaza, who rallied to beat Thai player Danai Udomchoke 3-6 6-4 6-2, and Sasi Mukund, who got the better of wild card Fahad Mohammed 6-3 6-4.
National hard court champion Vishnu Vardhan and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth also moved to the second round. Vardhan defeated Suraj Prabodh 6-1 6-3 while Prashanth advanced when Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha retired mid-way through the contest.
Prashanth was leading 6-1 5-2 when Poonacha retired.
Other Results:
A Kudryavtsev (RUS) d M Jayaprakash (IND) 67(4) 75 62
E Donskoy (RUS) d M Pavic (CRO) 64 64
I Marchenko (UKR) d F Cermak (CZE) 63 64
A Bedene (SLO) d [WC] S Nagal (IND) 62 60
L Vanni (ITA) d [WC] R Raswant (IND) 62 62
P Torebko (GER) d O Marach (AUT) 63 10 Retired
M Venus (NZL) d C Sood (IND) 63 64
T Fabbiano (ITA) d [WC] R Manoah (IND) 60 60
K Kaza (IND) d D Udomchoke (THA) 36 64 62
E Gerasimov (BLR) d A Wagh (IND) 61 60.
