Yuki Bhambri defeats world number 40 Jiri Vesley to reach Taiwan Challenger final
Indian tennis stalwart Yuki Bhambri avenged his Davis Cup loss to world number 40 Jiri Vesley of the Czech Replublic, by defeating him, 7-6 (2), 6-0 to reach the ATP Taiwan Challenger final today. This was the second biggest win of Bhambri’s career, who will now fight it out for USD 125,000 at the tournament’s summit clash.
A good day for Indian tennis as Sania Mirza also continued her good form by winning the Guanzhou Open doubles title. Along with Martina Hingis, they would go onto win the final, 6-3,6-1.
This particular semi-final victory has assured Bhambri 75 points. A win in the final will fetch him 100, which guarantees a top 100 spot in the ATP world rankings. This is the 22 year old’s second win over a top 50 opponent, the last one was against world number 16 Fabio Fognini. He has beaten players from the top 100, only thrice – Pablo Carreno Busta (84) Jack Sock (T-88) and Tobias Kamke (T-88).
Bhambri showed immense resolve in the first set, after saving four break points, to successfully win the tie-breaker. The second set was a polar opposite to the first one, with Bhambri delivering some top-notch serving. He would go onto convert three break points to seal a major upset. The entire match lasted one hour and 23 minutes.
Last week, Bhambri succumbed to a defeat in the deciding fourth rubber of the Davis Cup against Vesley.
Bhambri said, “I played him last week in Delhi, so I knew I had a chance of winning. he dominated the game service wise, but by the second set, he seemed a bit tired.”
He is all set to face another top 100 opponent in world number 75 South Korea’s Hyong Cheung. The Indian duo of Somdev Devvarman and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan lost the doubles final to Taiwan’s Tsung Hua-Yang and Cheng Peng-Hsieh, 2-6, 3-6.
Bhambri has been in decent form this season, reaching the semi-finals of the Kazan Kremling Cup in Russia. Earlier this year, Bhambri entered the Australian Open as the lowest ranked player. He was handed a tough draw, facing World number three Andy Murray. The Delhi-born player, eventually lost the match in straight sets, 6-3-, 6-4, 7-6.