Asian Games: Yuki Bhambri in semis, Sanam Singh crashes out

Yuki Bhambri

Incheon, Sep 27 (IANS)

India's Yuki Bhambri marched into the semi-finals of men's singles tennis event with a commanding display but compatriot Sanam Singh was knocked out after losing his quarter-final match of the 17th Asian Games on Saturday.

Bhambri, seeded fourth, took an hour and 13 minutes to dispose off Danai Udomchoke of Thailand 6-3, 6-2 to set up a semi-final match against fifth seeded Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka.

The Thai player, though, fought well as Bhambri was made to work hard for his points. The Indian took the first set 6-3 in 40 minutes to take a 1-0 lead.

Bhambri upped his game in the second and won the set 6-2 in 33 minutes.

The other Indian in the draw, Sanam, though, failed to replicate his compatriot.

The 10th seeded Indian up against the top seed Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei put up a valiant fight but in the end lost 6-7 (3-7), 4-6 in straight sets in an hour and 37 minutes to exit the Asiad.

Sanam gave the top seed a major fright and made him sweat for every point.

The 26-year-old Indian took the first set into tie-break and finally lost 6-7 (3-7) in 56 minutes.

Sanam's serve was broken for the first time in the second set and that proved to be the difference as the Taipei player wrapped up the set 6-4 in 41 minutes.