India’s top players enter pre-quarters

Pune, November 13

Led by top seed Prajnesh Gunneswaran, India’s top singles players progressed to the pre-quarterfinals with contrasting victories, but Saketh Myneni was knocked out of the KPIT-MSTLA Challenger after being in a position of strength here today.

India No. 1 Gunneswaran needed just 49 minutes to demolish Chandril Sood 6-1 6-3, while third seed Sumit Nagal quelled a late challenge from Aryan Goveas to emerge a 6-3 7-6(5) winner.

Sixth seed Ramkumar Ramnathan hammered eight aces on his way to a 6-3 6-4 win over Greece’s Markos Kalovelonis. Eighth seed Sasikumar Mukund beat Japanese doubles specialist Toshide Matsui 6-2 6-3.

Myneni was leading 6-3 4-2 against Turkish Ergi Kirkin but the 10th seeded Indian lost 6-3 5-7 4-6. — PTI