Somdev Devvarman; A look at the Asian Games gold medallist in 2010
Born on 13 February 1985 in the city of Assam, Somdev Devvarman is a professional tennis player from India. The right hander rose to prominence during his college days at the University of Virginia in the United States of America. The 1.80 meters tall is
the only collegiate contender to ever have made it to three NCAA singles tournaments in a row, triumphing in it in his senior as well as junior year. He came to the limelight after winning a gold medal at the Men’s singles event of the Commonwealth Games and
Asian earlier this year during the month of October and November respectively. Somdev also won the men’s doubles event in China.
Currently ranked number 106 in the South African Airways ATP list, Somdev Devvarman turned professional back in 2008. He made his way into his first ATP Tour title battle at the Chennai Open back in 2009. He advanced into the finals after getting the better
of two time former Chennai Open winner and world number forty two Carlos Moya from Spain as well as Ivo Karlovic of Croatia.
In the semi final round, the Indian faced German Rainer Schuttler who pulled out as a result of this injury meaning by that Somdev reached the title battle. In the finals, he was eventually thrashed out by Marin Cilic of Croatia in two sets. The final match
score was 6–4, 7–6(3).
The right hander who achieved his career high ranking of world number ninety four back in October this season started his 2010 campaign by playing at the SA Open in Johannesburg. He did well to make his way into the quarters before eventually bundling out
of the event.
The Assam born next competed at the ATP World Tour 500 series Dubai Tennis Championships where he couldn’t go beyond the second round as he was toppled at the hands of Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets. Somdev also leads India’s Davis Cup side in their clash
versus Russia.
At the year’s biggest clay court event, the French Open at Roland Garros, the 1.80 meters tall Somdev successfully qualified for the competition. He however lost his opening round match against Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland in a five-setter epic. The
final match score was 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3.
Somdev also played at Wimbledon in the doubles event, teaming up with his former UVA teammate, Treat Huey. They, however, were dispatched off by the Indo –Pak pair of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in four sets with a score line of 3-6, 7-5, 6-3,
7-6(6).
World number 106 also achieved direct entry to the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York where he once again fell in the first round to Kevin Anderson of South Africa in three sets. The final match score was 6-3, 6-4, and 6-3.
The Indian tennis ace surprised everyone by winning the Men's Tennis gold medal in the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi back in October. He captured gold after getting the better of Greg Jones from Australia in straight sets. The match score was 6-4
6-2.
A month later, Somdev also grabbed the Men's Singles Tennis gold medal in the sixteenth edition of the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China, knocking out Denis Istomin from Uzbekistan in two sets. The final match score was 6-1 6-2. He also won gold in the Mens
Doubles event, pairing up with Sanam Singh of India.
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