Tennis: Double win for Bhambri

Chennai, Feb 8 (IANS) Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia squandered a 5-3 lead in the final set as Yuki Bhambri scrambled to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win in the singles final of the Sriram Capital PL Reddy Memorial ATP Challenger tennis tournament here Saturday.

Bhambri went on to achieve a double as he partnered Michael Venus of New Zealand to defeat the Indo-Slovakian combination of N.Sriram Balaji and Blaz Rola 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the doubles final.

Kudryavtsev continued to have the tag of an under-achiever despite the enormous talent he has and he blew a 5-3 lead and conceded the next four games rather tamely.

Bhambri, on the other hand, stood up to his opponent’s onslaught and played some remarkably long rallies eliciting errors from the Russian to earn a well-deserved title besides $7,200 and 80 ATP points.

Earlier, Bhambri faltered against Kudryavtsev’s forceful play. Though the Indian kept up with the Russian till 4-all, he was broken in the 10th game rather easily as Kudryavtsev won the first set 6-4.

The second set saw an exchange of breaks up to 3-all, but again a lack-luster and error-filled display by Kudryavtsev coupled with Bhambri’s consistent aggression resulted in the latter taking the set 6-3.

Kudryavtsev lea right through in the final set, but he wasted a 3-1 advantage to allow Bhambri to catch up at 3-all. The Russian won the next two games for 5-3 only to falter again. Bhambri needed no second invitation as he quickly won four games on the trot for the match.