Yuki Bhambri advances but Ramkumar ousted from Bengaluru Open

Last week’s winner Yuki Bhambri and young Sumit Nagal scored contrasting wins to progress to the quarterfinals of the Bengaluru Open but Ramkumar Ramanathan bowed out of the ATP Challenger event on Wednesday.

Third seed Bhambri pipped Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-2 7-6 (0) while Nagal battled past Great Britain’s Brydan Klein 6-4 4-6 7-5 in a marathon quarterfinal clash.

In another match, Prajnesh defeated Australian Marc Polmans 6-2 6-7 (1) 6-1.

However, last week’s runner-up and fifth Ramkumar was ousted following a 7-6(3) 2-6 4-6 defeat at the hands of Briton Jay Clarke.

Before taking on Polmans, Prajnesh had stunned British sixth seed Evan King 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets, avenging his loss to him at KPIT-MSLTA Challenger in Pune.

Prajnesh, pairing with Ramkumar Ramanathan, had also made a winning start in men’s doubles event by defeating compatriots Suraj Prabodh and Nitin Kumar Sinha 6-2 6-2 on day one of the tournament.

After winning the first set, Nagal lost his tempo and conceded the second set to the British, who powered his way through with aggressive tennis.