Prajnesh Gunneswaran eliminated in China challenger quarterfinals
India’s top-ranked tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran was stunned in straight sets by Canada’s in the quarterfinals of the $162,480 Challenger tennis tournament in Ningbo, China. However, Riya Bhatia and Rutuja Bhosale made it to the semi-finals of the $25,000 ITF women’s event, Lagos.
The Indian top seed was up against a tricky opponent in the Canadian on Friday in the China Challenger, however, he wasn’t the second favourite by any chance. But, the player’s poor form has continued with him going down 6-3, 6-4. In the end, he had to be content with 25 ATP points and $4,380.
Barring him, India’s top woman seed Ankita Raina was also shown the door by fourth seed Lin Zhu of China 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the $100,000 ITF women’s event in Suzhou, China. However, Raina made it to the doubles final alongside Rosalie van der Hoek of the Netherlands.
However, Indian tennis fans had something to cheer about in the $25,000 ITF event in Lagos, Nigeria. Former national champion Riya Bhatia got the better of top seed Seone Mendez of Australia 4-6, 6-0, 6-0. She was further joined by compatriot Rutuja Bhosale, who eliminated Sandra Samir for the loss of two games.
The results:
$162,480 Challenger, Ningbo, China
Singles (quarterfinals): Steven Diez (Can) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-3, 6-4.
$25,000 ITF men, Lagos, Nigeria
Doubles (quarterfinals): William Bushamuka (US) & Aryan Goveas bt Jatin Dahiya & Dhruv Sunish 4-6, 6-1, [10-4].
$15,000 ITF men, Doha, Qatar
Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Tom Kocevar-Desman (Slo) bt Rishab Agarwal 6-4, 7-5.
$100,000 ITF women, Suzhou, China
Singles (quarterfinals): LinZhu (Chn) bt Ankita Raina 6-4, 6-4.
Doubles (semifinals): Rosalie van der Hoek (Ned) & Ankita Raina bt Jovana Jaksic & Natalija Kostic (Srb) 4-6, 7-5, [10-8].
$25,000 ITF women, Lagos, Nigeria
Singles (quarterfinals): Riya Bhatia bt Seone Mendez (Aus) 4-6, 6-0, 6-0; Rutuja Bhosale bt Sandra Samir (Egy) 6-2, 6-0.
