SAKETH TUMBLES, JEEVAN, KARMAN WIN TITLES

Qualifier Saketh Myneni’s fine run was cut short in the semifinals by top seed Nikola Milojevic of Serbia with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 score in the $75,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Uzbekistan on Saturday.

In the doubles final, Saketh and Vijay Sundar Prashanth were beaten 6-4, 6-4 by the Russians, Ivan Gakhov and Alexander Pavlioutchenkov.

Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan clinched the doubles title in partnership with Austin Krajicek of the US, in the € 127,000 Challenger in Ilkley.

It was the second Challenger doubles title of the season for Jeevan, who had won the Dallas Challenger with Christopher Rungkat. It was the sixth Challenger doubles title for the 29-year-old Jeevan, who won the Chennai ATP Tour event last year with Rohan Bopanna.

In the $25,000 ITF women’s event in Hong Kong, second seed Karman Kaur Thandi outclassed top seed Jia-Jing Lu of China 6-1, 6-2 to clinch her maiden singles title in the professional circuit.

The 261st ranked Karman had won three doubles titles, but was hunting for the elusive singles crown.

The results:

€ 127,000 Challenger men, Ilkley, UK
Doubles (final): Austrin Krajicek (US) & Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan bt Kevin Krawietz & Andreas Mies) 6-3, 6-3.

$75,000 Challenger men, Fergana, Uzbekistan
Singles (semifinals): Nikola Milojevic (Srb) bt Saketh Myneni 6-4, 5-7, 6-0.

Doubles (final): Ivan Gakhov & Alexander Pavlioutchenkov bt Saketh Myneni & Vijay Sundar Prashanth (Rus) 6-4, 6-4.

$25,000 ITF women, Hong Kong
Singles (final): Karman Kaur Thandi bt Jia-Jing Lu (Chn) 6-1, 6-2.

$15,000 ITF women, Amarante, Portugal
Singles (quarterfinals): Valeria Bhunu (Zim) bt Snehadevi Reddy 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

Doubles (quarterfinals): Alba Carrillo Marin (Esp) & Ines Murta (Por) bt Lou Brouleau (Fra) & Snehadevi Reddy 7-6(3), 6-2.