Yuki outlasts Uchiyama, enters semis

Chennai, February 15

India’s Yuki Bhambri came from behind to beat Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama and book a spot in the semifinals of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger Tournament here today. The second seed allowed his rival to bounce back when in sight of the first set, before regrouping to take the next two on a hot afternoon to post a 5-7 6-2 6-4 win.

Bhambri failed to convert the chances he had and allowed the sixth-seeded Uchiyama to take the first set. The 25-year-old Delhi player, however, raised his game in the second set with some fluent shots and broke twice to wrap up the set in 28 minutes.

The Indian came up with some impressive winners in the decider and closed out the match with a forehand volley winner. Bhambri will meet third seed Duckhee Lee in the semifinal. Lee posted a 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over Frenchman Antoine Escoffier, who had beaten India’s Sumit Nagal in the opening round.  — PTI