Bengaluru: India’s Manas Dhamne showed raw talent at the Bengaluru Open—an ATP Challenger 125 tournament— with a gritty show at the KSLTA Stadium on Tuesday. However, the wildcard entrant faltered at a crucial juncture, losing the tie-break in the deciding set to go down 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3) to Russia’s Petr Bar Biryukov in one hour 51 minutes. With it the hosts’ campaign in the singles event came to an early end with Ramkumar Ramanathan and Karan Singh too making an opening round exit.
Although the 17-year-old Dhamne, who was cheered on by the spluttering crowd, put up a fight, it was the Biryukov’s powerful serves, which played an integral role in the win. Compared to Dhamne’s zero aces, the lanky Russian threw in 14, including seven in the third set, highlighting his dominance. Credit to Dhamne, who came up with a strong return game, but it was not enough against Biryukov.
Likewise, Karan put up a brave display against Jurij Rodionov before the Austrian prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3). The one-hour 57-minute contest was a game of fine margins. There were just two service breaks. If Rodionov broke in the first game to clinch the opening set, Singh broke in the tenth game to force into a decider.
There was nothing to separate the two fierce competitors as their powerful groundstrokes earned them several winners in the third set. In the tie-break, Rodionov stepped up and won five straight points with the Indian making several unforced errors, signaling his exit.
Ramkumar lost to Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in straight sets, 6-7 (3), 5-7 in one hour and 48 minutes.
The competition also witnessed a major upset with top-seed Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic losing 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 to his countryman Hynek Barton, a qualifier. Australian James McCabe sent home the fifth seed Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 to open the field further. Meanwhile, second seed Tristan Schoolkate from Australia survived a scare before thwarting Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Sultanaov 7-5, 6-7, 6-3. Fellow Australian Bernard also progressed with a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Ilia Simakin.
Select results (Rd 1): 2-Tristan Schoolkate (Aus) bt Khumoyun Sultanov (Uzb) 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3; Bernard Tomic (Aus) bt Ilia Simakin 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4; 7-Shintaro Mochizuki (Jpn) bt Ramkumar Ramanathan (Ind) 7-6(3), 7-5; Petr Bar Biryukov bt Manas Dhamne (Ind) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3); James McCabe (Aus) bt 5-Kyrian Jacquet (Fra) 6-7(8), 6-1, 6-2; Jurij Rodionov (Aut) bt Karan Singh (Ind) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3); Hynek Barton (Cze) bt 1-Vit Kopriva (Cze) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Nicolas Alvarez Varona (Esp) d. 6-Ugo Blanchet (Fra) 6-3, 4-2 Retd.