(MOREPIC1)(MOREPIC2) BALBIR SINGH/INDIANAPOLIS
Ramkumar Ramanathan of India,partnering with Australian John-Patrick Smith, seeded second and Purav Raja and handed Divij Sharan registered well-earned victories in their respective doubles pre quarter-finals in the $53,120 Rajeev Ram Foundation Indy Challenger at the Pearson Automotive Tennis Club in Zionsville, Indiana, here on Wednesday.
These pairs will now contest between them in the quarter-finals in the indoor courts.
Displaying better understanding Purav Raja and Divij Sharan did not face any tough resistance to down Rinky Hijikata (AUS) and Nicholas Monroe (USA) in straight sets 6-2 7-5.
The Indian duo made their intentions clear from the word go as they broke their opponents in the first game of the first set. Another break in the third game paved the way for Purav Raja and Divij Sharan claimed the first set.
The second set began with exchanges of breaks in the first two games. Their opponents fought better in the second set and they were tied at 5-all. However Raja and Divij clinched the next two games to win the set and match.
Second seeded Ramkumar Ramanathan (of India and John-Patrick Smith (Australia) overcame the challenge of Hady Habib (LIB) and Li Tu (AUS) 6-3 6-7 (6) 10-7 and advanced ino quarter-final.
Results:
Singles (Pre-quaters): (8) Christopher Eubanks (USA) bt (Q) Juncheng Shang (China) 7-5 6-3, (Alt) Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) bt (Q) Sho Shimabukuro (Japan) 6-3 6-4, (WC) Alex Rybakov (USA) bt Alexis Galarneau (Canada) 6-4 5-7 6-3, Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) bt (LL) Billy Harris (GBR) 6-4 7-6 (7)
Doubles (Pre-quarters): (1) Hans Hach Verdugo (Mex) andHunter Reese (USA)bt (WC) bt Nishesh Basavareddy and Patrick Fletchall (USA) 6-4 7-6 (4), (2) Ramkumar Ramanathan (India) and John-Patrick Smith (Australia) bt Hady Habib (LIB) and Li Tu (AUS) 6-3 6-7 (6) 10-7, (3) Robert Galloway and Alex Lawson USA) bt Luca Margaroli (SUI) and Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) 7-5 6-3, (PR) Toshihide Matsui and Kaito Uesugi (JPN) bt (4) Yu Hsiou Hsu (TPE) and Michail Pervolarakis (GRE) 6-3 6-4, Gijs Brouwer (NED) and Andrew Harris (AUS) bt Borna Gojo (CRO) and Juncheng Shang (CHN) 6-2 7-5, Enzo Couacaud (FRA) and Christopher Eubanks bt Mitchell Krueger and Alex Rybakov (USA) 6-3 5-7 11-9, Ruben Gonzales (PHI) and Reese Stalder (USA) bt (WC) Nick Chappell and Keegan Smith (USA)6-7 (4) 6-4 13-11, Purav Raja and Divij Sharan bt Rinky Hijikata (AUS) and Nicholas Monroe (USA) 6-2 7-5.
