(MOREPIC1)(MOREPIC2) BALBIR SINGH/INDIANAPOLIS
Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan rallied to prevail over Ramkumar Ramanathan of India by 4-6 6-4 6-1 in the singles first round of the $53,120 Rajeev Ram Foundation Indy Challenger at the Pearson Automotive Tennis Club in Zionsville, Indiana, The first two sets were evenly contested. However, Ramkumar surrendered the third set by winning just a solitary game.
Ramkumar Ramanathan got an early break as he broke Yesutaka Uchiyama in the first game to gain a 1-0 lead. The players blew hot and cold in the fourth game with Ramkumar serving. Ramkumar saved three breakpoints and enjoyed advantage twice before holding his serve to lead 3-1. Deuce was called five times.
In the ninth game Ramkumar led 40-0 (three ser points). His opponent saved one point before the Indian player from Chennai wrapped up the first set ar 6-4.
Uchiyama won the first game of the second set at love. In the second game Ramkumar saved a breakpoint to make it 40-40 and Advantage. He then released his seventh ace to hold his serve to make it 1-1.
In the third game with Uchiyama, Ramkumar missed two breakpoints and his rival was able to hold his serve to lead 2-1.
Trailing 2-3, Rakmumar saved a breakpoint at 30-40 in the sixth game. After deuce was called thrice, Ramkumar saved the game to level the score 3-3.
In the 10th game Ramkumar trailing 4-5, 30-40 saved a set point before making it deuce. However Yasutaka Uchiyama won the point on the second serve of Ramkumar Ramanathan. The serve of Ramkumar got broken and Yasutaka won the second set at 6-4 to make it one-set all.
Ramkumar faced three breakpoints in the second game of the third set. Yasutaka Uchiyama broke Ramkumar to take a 2-0 lead. Yasutaka Uchiyama won the point on his second serve to establish a commanding 3-0 lead.
Another closely fought game in the fourth. Deuce was called seventh time. Yasutaka Uchiyama won the point on the 1st serve of Ramkumar Ramanathan. Yasutaka broke the serve of Ramkumar to lead 4-0.
The Japanese player won the fifth game at love to make it 5-0.
Yasutaka Uchiyama went on to win the third set at 6-1 and the match in nearly two hours.
Ramkumar unleashed 15 aces but committed 12 double faults. The Indian player saved 15 out of 18 breakpoints. Ramkumar won 86 points out of 193.
In comparison Yasutaka served 13 aces and committed four double faults and saved four out of five breakpoints. Yasutaka won 107 points out of 193 points.
