ATP Winnetka Challenger: Somdev loses in semifinals, enters doubles final
Somdev Devvarman (file photo)
India’s Somdev Devvarman lost to second-seed Jack Sock of US 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(5) in the semifinals of the ATP Winnetka Challenger tournament being played in the US.
The fifth seeded Indian started on a promising note bagging the opening set against the 102nd-ranked American. Somdev effected the break of serve when it mattered to pocket the first set at 6-3.
Sock rebounded in the second set breaching Somdev’s serve to clinch it 6-4 to force it into a decider.
The American was let down by his serve as he double faulted as many as eleven times but made up for that with superb groundstrokes and good net play. Somdev, on the other hand, served well firing eleven aces, but his inability to close out the crucial points cost him dearly.
It was a battle of attrition in the third set as Sock prevailed over the Indian in tie-breaker.
The win was a sweet revenge for Sock who had lost to Somdev in the second round of the Nottingham Challenger earlier this year.
Earlier, the 136th-ranked Indian disposed off 98th-ranked Steve Johnson of the US 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
Somdev put it across compatriot Saketh-Sai Myneni 6-1, 6-2 in the second round.
He defeated American 612th ranked Sekou Bangoura6-7(7), 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.
However, Somde and Sock reached the doubles final where they will play the Indo-New Zealand pair of Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus.
It may be worth recalling that Somdev had lost in the first round of the Wimbledon qualifiers to Australia’s 215th ranked Matt Reid 6-7 (4), 6-4, 16-18.
The Indian had earlier reached the semifinals of the ATP Nottingham challenger tournament, where he lost to American Steve Johnson 3-6, 4-6.
He had surged forty-eight places following a semifinal finish at the ATP Caltanissetta Challenger in Italy as well as a second round appearance at the French Open (lost to Roger Federer) after going through the qualifying route.
He is on a comeback trail after a lingering shoulder injury consigned him to the sidelines for more than nine months in 2012.
Somdev has been regularly taking part in ATP events only since late last year. He had reached a career-high ATP ranking of 62 in July 2011.
Earlier this year, he took on world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round of the Miami Masters and lost in straight sets to the Serb.