Chennai:
India's numero uno singles player Somdev Devvarman started his $400,000 Chennai Open campaign in style by beating eighth seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany 7-5, 6-2 in the first round here on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Indian wildcard, who reached the final of the tournament last year, came out with some impressive tennis and won 11 games in a row to leave his German opponent totally clueless on other side of the net during the match.
Devvarman, ranked 127 in ATP ranking, however, started the match on a negative note as he was broken in his very first game after Schuettler won the opening game of the match.
However, the Indian capitalised on the home support to claw his way back and send Schuettler packing in the first round.
After winning the match, Somdev insisted that he was not trying to prove any point but was only trying to do well in the first round match.
"There are rooms for improvement in my play. Playing well from back court and centre lot of times is going to be my focus in the coming matches. I now have a job on hand to play well against Yanko (Tipservic of Serbia). Davis cup taught me that I can rely on my fitness. Yanko likes really attacking," Somdev said.
"I am going to be on my game on returning wherever I can get the points. I am going to take my spots well. Key for me to serve well and not be offensive," he added.
Somdev, a Virginia University graduate with back to back national college titles under his belt in 2007 and 2008, was inexplicably accurate and rarely failed to score the winners.
It was only a question of as to when he is going to touch his rhythm, which he found in the ninth game when he broke for the second time in the first set.
Earlier, Somdev returned the compliment breaking back in the third game but was broken again to trail 3-5.
Once he found his rhythm, Somdev was unstoppable as he pounded winners after winners in the match which was full of rallies.
After the match, Somdev became emotional as he required this win the most at this venue since he grew up in the city before migrating to the USA.
The 24-year-old Indian wildcard, who reached the final of the tournament last year, came out with some impressive tennis and won 11 games in a row to leave his German opponent totally clueless on other side of the net during the match.
Devvarman, ranked 127 in ATP ranking, however, started the match on a negative note as he was broken in his very first game after Schuettler won the opening game of the match.
However, the Indian capitalised on the home support to claw his way back and send Schuettler packing in the first round.
After winning the match, Somdev insisted that he was not trying to prove any point but was only trying to do well in the first round match.
"There are rooms for improvement in my play. Playing well from back court and centre lot of times is going to be my focus in the coming matches. I now have a job on hand to play well against Yanko (Tipservic of Serbia). Davis cup taught me that I can rely on my fitness. Yanko likes really attacking," Somdev said.
"I am going to be on my game on returning wherever I can get the points. I am going to take my spots well. Key for me to serve well and not be offensive," he added.
Somdev, a Virginia University graduate with back to back national college titles under his belt in 2007 and 2008, was inexplicably accurate and rarely failed to score the winners.
It was only a question of as to when he is going to touch his rhythm, which he found in the ninth game when he broke for the second time in the first set.
Earlier, Somdev returned the compliment breaking back in the third game but was broken again to trail 3-5.
Once he found his rhythm, Somdev was unstoppable as he pounded winners after winners in the match which was full of rallies.
After the match, Somdev became emotional as he required this win the most at this venue since he grew up in the city before migrating to the USA.
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