(MOREPIC3) BALBIR SINGH/INDIANAPOLIS
Unseeded Indian pair of Purav Raja and left handed Divij Sharan put up a great fight before their opponents top seeded pair of Hans Hach Verdugo (Mex) and Hunter Reese (USA) just managed to pip the spirited Indians in the doubles final of the $53,120 Rajeev Ram Foundation Indy Challenger at the Pearson Automotive Tennis Club in Zionsville, Indiana, here on Saturday.
Both pairs split the first two sets before the final entering the tie-breaker session. With Verdugo-Reese winning the mini break by winning the first point (1-0) they got a slight psychological advantage which they capitalised to win the title at 7-6 (3), 6-3, 10-7).
Both sets of pairs dished out good tennis. They fought for every point as the title clash lasted one hour 41 minutes and 12 seconds.
(MOREPIC1) (MOREPIC2) Winners Hans Hach Verdugo (Mex) and Hunter Reese (USA) earned $3,100 and 80 points while runners-up Purav Raja and Divij Sharan received $1,800 and 50 points.
In the singles semi-finals Alternate Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) defeated Special Exempt Ben Shelton (USA) 6-4 7-5, and Special Exempt) Yibing Wu (CHN) bt Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) 7-5 6-3.
Results
Doubles (final): (1) Hans Hach Verdugo (Mex) and Hunter Reese (USA) bt Purav Raja and Divij Sharan (India) 7-6 (3) 3-6 10-7.
Singles (semi-finals): (Alternate) Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) bt (SE) Ben Shelton (USA) 6-4 7-5, (Special Exempt) Yibing Wu (CHN) btYasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) 7-5 6-3.
