Yuki Bhambri edges Ramkumar Ramanathan to win Pune Challenger title

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Yuki Bhambri: On the way up

Yuki Bhambri returned to the winners’ circle after beating compatriot, Ramkumar Ramanathan in a thrilling final between the top two Indians at the $50000+ Hospitality KPIT MSLTA ATP Challenger held at the Mhalunge-Balewadi Tennis Complex in Pune on Saturday. The third seeded Bhambri needed 2 hours 2 minutes to get the better of the fourth seeded Ramanathan, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 25-year-old Bhambri had a bright start to the final and quickly went up 2-0. However, he could not keep his lead for a long time as Ramanathan soon stormed back to level matters.

The 137th ranked Yuki was put to the test in the tenth game of the opener. The former Australian Open junior champion displayed his fighting skills and saved two set points before his 23-year-old countryman broke to wrap up the opener.

Bhambri shook that setback off quickly and staged a brilliant fightback from thereon. He threw down the gauntlet to the 150th ranked Ramanathan with an early break that sent him up to 2-1 in the second set. As Ramkumar’s service woes started surfacing, he was put pretty much on the backfoot for the rest of the match. Bhambri kept up the onslaught and found the decisive breakthrough in the ninth game that awarded him the set.

The decider was a highly competitive affair. It was a battle between Yuki’s offense and Ramkumar’s dogged resistance. Under pressure, the younger Indian saved a break point to even the set, 3-3.

Yuki’s persistent efforts were finally rewarded with Ramkumar serving to stay in the match. With his solitary break of the set, Bhambri sailed to the title.

Ramanathan served 11 aces but his good work was undone with a smattering of 10 doubles faults. In contrast, Yuki was much more stable, serving 2 aces and three double faults. The winner finished with a total of 95 points while Ramanathan could only bag 84.

First Challenger title of the season for Bhambri

This is the first Challenge title of the season and sixth overall for the resurgent Bhambri, who has come back to the Tour after his 2016 season was ravaged by an elbow injury. Yuki had earlier triumphed in Pune two years ago.

His only Challenger final this season, prior to the Pune event, came at the Tashkent Challenger where he reached the doubles final alongside Divij Sharan.

Yuki is admittedly stronger and fitter now which is being reflected in his confident results. His most notable performance this year has been his run to the quarter-finals of the Citi Open -- an ATP 500 tournament in Washington DC.

Meanwhile, the highly talented Ramanathan keeps searching for his maiden crown this year after tasting defeat at the Tallahassee and Winnetka Challengers.

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