Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj reach second round – Aircel Chennai Open 2013
There was much to cheer for local fans on the opening day of the main draw play, as two Indians, Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj, scored upset wins to advance to the second round of the Aircel Chennai Open.
World number 664, Devvarman, did not face much trouble in beating the 106th ranked player from Czech Republic, Jan Hajek, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round. The Indian star needed just an hour and nine minutes
to complete this one sided win.
Devvarman made his intentions clear at the beginning of the contest, as he broke his Czech rival in the first game of the opening set and held his following serve to attain a 2-0 lead. Serving to stay in contention at 3-5, Hajek
could not hold and went down 3-6.
In the second set, Devvarman and Hajek exchanged a single break in the first four games and levelled the score at 2-2. The former Indian number one dropped only one game afterwards, sealing it 6-3.
Devvarman said during the post match interview, "Yes, it is a good start for the New Year, but you can't take any credit from Hajek who had a great season last year. Perhaps, he was practicing in the cold back home, but I have
been preparing well for this tournament."
The Indian contender has a tough task ahead, as he will take on the top seed, Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic, in the second round.
On the other hand, Amritraj fought back after losing the opener to stun the world number 92, Guillaume Rufin of France, in three sets 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 to move to the next stage.
Amritraj, who is making a comeback after staying away from the ATP World Tour for almost two years, made a brilliant fight back after losing the opener and dominated the following two sets.
Talking to his father and one of the top commentators, Vijay Amritraj, in a courtside interview after the match, he said, "I was a little bit off at the start and it was disappointing to lose the first set, but I buckled down thereafter
and began to feel comfortable. Two years ago, I was lying on the couch and wondering whether I would hit a ball at all. Six months ago, I picked up the racquet and began to hit with my cousin Steven.”
Amritraj will lock horns with the eighth seed, Go Soeda, for a place in the last eight.
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