Nanchang Challenger 2019 | SK Mukund and NS Balaji progress to pre-quarters
India’s SK Mukund and NS Balaji did enough to ensure a berth in the pre-quarterfinals of the ongoing Nanchang Challenger event being held in China. While Mukund was adjudged the winner after Japan’s R Tokuda retired hurt, Balaji beat local Yan Bai 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 to progress to the next round.
Indian tennis players SK Mukund and NS Bajaji endured a progressive outing on Monday at the ongoing Nanchang Challenger 2019 which is being held in China. The Indian duo registered respective victories in the ongoing round to seal a berth in the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s singles event.
Mukund went up against Japan’s R Tokuda and managed to comfortably win the first game 6-1 against his lower-ranked opponent. However, Tokuda was forced to retire in the second game which Mukund led by 3-1 in a match that ended in 42 minutes itself. The young Indian will face-off with seventh seed Nikola Milivojevic in the next round.
Meanwhile, compatriot NS Balaji was made to toil hard but made a strong comeback to knockout local boy Yan Bai in a match that lasted for two hours and 33 minutes. Balaji fought back with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 win against Bai to seal a pre-quarter spot. He will go up against 11th seed G Soeda in the next round.
