ATP Shanghai Challenger: Yuki Bhambri comes back to lift title
In a significant boost to India’s Davis cup tie next week, Indian spearhead Yuki Bhambri secured a title win on the hard courts of Shanghai. Bhambri defeated local player Di Wu 3-6 6-0 7-6(3) in the summit clash to win his fourth challenger title.
The fourth seeded Indian lost the first set with only a break of serve separating the two opponents. However, he made a comeback in the second set by dominating over the world number 247 as he raced away to a bagel. With momentum firmly in his favor, the Delhi lad exerted a lot of pressure on the Chinese player but was able to convert only 1 of the 10 break point chances. Both players exchanged breaks as the match headed to a tie break. The world number 145 Indian held his nerve in the crucial moments to seal the match with a 7-3 tiebreak score.
This victory would give Bhambri 80 ATP ranking points and with 23 points dropping from last year, his ranking could rise by almost 20 positions to be placed in the 120s.
Bhambri has had an impressive year on the Challenger circuit with final appearances in Samarkand and New Delhi and multiple semifinals in Kazan, Vancouver and Taipei. He also reached the main draw of the Australian Open but failed to clear the qualifiers in the other three majors.
The Delhi lad was also instrumental in India’s 3-2 Davis Cup away victory over New Zealand. He would like to maintain his form heading into the tough World Group play-off encounter against the World number 1 Czech team in Delhi.