Ranzi Sports

Bengaluru, May 12: Wildcard Kriish Tyagi took full advantage of the familiar home environment as the 19-year-old Indian secured an impressive straight-sets win to reach the Pre-quarterfinals of the Karnataka Open ATP Challenger at the KSLTA Stadium on Tuesday. Competing in his first professional event of the season on the courts where he grew up, Kriish delivered a composed performance, defeating Japanese qualifier Taiyo Yamanaka with a score of 6-2, 7-5.

India had additional reasons to celebrate as Mukund Sasikumar and Manish Sureshkumar progressed to the next round with strong victories.

Mukund triumphed over Malaysia’s Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (1),

while Manish narrowly defeated American qualifier Ronit Karki 6-4, 7-6 (7) in a closely contested match to secure a spot in the last 16.

The Bengaluru native Kriish broke his opponent’s serve three times during the match, including twice in the first set, while managing to keep his unforced errors in check to control the match. Kriish, who is currently studying Business and Finance at Texas A&M University in the United States, stated that the home conditions significantly contributed to his performance.

“Playing at home certainly benefited me. I am accustomed to these conditions, which boosted my confidence. In college, I practice and compete against players who are on the brink of entering the ATP circuit, and that experience is enhancing my game,” Kriish remarked after the match.

Unfortunately, it marked the end of the tournament for several other Indian players. Digvijaypratap Singh challenged fourth seed Philip Sekulic fiercely before falling in two closely contested tie-break sets 6-7 (5), 6-7 (5). Sixth seed Karan Singh wasted a 5-3 lead in the first set before exiting with a 6-7 (6), 3-6 loss to Japan’s Kokoro Isomura, while another local player, D Prajwal Dev, was defeated by Australia’s Joshua Charlton 6-1, 6-4.

Qualifier Aditya Vishal Balsekar, who had sparked hopes after making the main draw, succumbed to Israel’s Amit Vales with a score of 6-2, 6-2.

In other notable results, British qualifier Alastair Gray achieved a hard-fought victory.

In a series of remarkable outcomes, British qualifier Alastair Gray achieved a hard-fought victory against third seed Petr Bar Biryukov with scores of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). Meanwhile, top seed Keegan Smith comfortably defeated Japanese qualifier Ryotaro Taguchi, winning 6-1, 6-4.

Results (Pre-fix indicates seedings, country in parentheses)

Men’s singles Round of 32

4-Philip Sekulic (AUS) defeated Digvijaypratap Singh (IND) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5);

Mukund Sasikumar (IND) overcame Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (MAS) 6-3, 7-6 (1);

2-Hamish Stewart (GBR) triumphed over Omar Jasika (AUS) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3;

Kokoro Isomura (JPN) won against 6-Karan Singh (IND) 7-6 (6), 6-3;

Manish Sureshkumar (IND) beat Q-Ronit Karki (USA) 6-4, 7-6 (7);

Q-Alastair Gray (GBR) defeated 3-Petr Bar Biryukov 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3);

Joshua Charlton (AUS) won against D Prajwal Dev (IND) 6-1, 6-4;

WC-Kriish Tyagi (IND) triumphed over Q-Taiyo Yamanaka (JPN) 6-2, 7-5;

Ilya Ivashka defeated Kuan-Yi Lee (TPE) 6-2, 6-0;

1-Keegan Smith (USA) won against Q-Ryotaro Taguchi (JPN) 6-1, 6-4;

Amit Vales (ISR) triumphed over Q-Aditya Vishal Balsekar (IND) 6-2, 6-2;

Q-Christopher Papa (USA) defeated Ryuki Matsuda (JPN) 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2;

Men’s Doubles (Round of 16)

WC-Sidharth Rawat (IND) / Manish Sureshkumar (IND) won against Francis Casey Alcantara (PHI) / Maximus Jones (THA) 6-3, 6-2.