Mikhail Youzhny

Quallifier Saketh Myneni continued to assert his all-court game as he downed former World No.8 and top seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the pre-quarterfinals of the $125,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Saketh had lost to Youzhny in their only previous meeting in the Chennai Open last year. It may be recalled that the 36-year-old Youzhny, ranked a modest 105 now, had beaten Rafael Nadal 6-0, 6-1 in the final of the Chennai Open in 2008. He had beaten Marin Cilic for the loss of five games in the semifinals, then.