Ramkumar qualifies to face Sergiy Stakhovsky in Newport ATP

Ramkumar Ramanathan fought his way past Yuichi Sugita of Japan6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 in the second and final qualifying round of the $652,245 ATP tennis tournament on grass in Newport.

In the main draw, Ramkumar will play Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in the first round.

Meanwhile, there was set back for Indian players, as Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Purav Raja were beaten 7-6(3), 7-6(10) by the Chinese duo of Mao-Xin Gong and Ze Zhang in the doubles pre-quarterfinals.

In the singles main draw, Prajnesh Gunneswaran was beaten for the loss of four games by Marcel Granollers of Spain.

The results:

$652, 245 ATP, Newport, US
Singles (first round):Marcel Granollers (ESP) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Mao-Xin Gong & Ze Zhang (CHN) bt Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan & Purav Raja 7-6(3), 7-6(10).

Qualifying singles (second and final round): Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Yuichi Sugita (JPN) 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3; First round: Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Maxime Cressy (US) 7-6(5), 6-3.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)