Indian Wells | Yuki Bhambri beats Nicolas Mahut to setup second round clash against Lucas Pouille

03/10/2018

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After beating compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan to qualify for the main draw at Indian Wells, Yuki Bhambri, yesterday, stunned French World number 101 Nicolas Mahut in the opening round. In a match that lasted an hour and 42 minutes, the Indian secured the win in straight sets of 7-5, 6-3.

India’s top ranked player, Bhambri, got his first win in an ATP masters 1000 tournament over Mahut in comfortable straight sets of 7-5,6-3. However, at the start of the match the signs pointed to an early exit for the Indian. He was broken in his very first service game and until the end of the sixth game, he trailed 4-2. But the Indian was in no mood to exit the competition without a fight and in back to back games broke the Frenchman to take a 5-4 lead in the first set. However, the twists in the set were not quite done yet as Mahut broke him back in the very next game to draw level in the set yet again. The Indian though was in no mood to be denied and broke back immediately to take a slender lead that would be enough to secure the first set.

Bhambri carried his momentum into the second set as well and had four break point opportunities in the very first game but he failed to capitalize on the same. Two games later, it would come back to haunt him as Mahut broke him to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. The Indian, however, fought back with intent and broke the Frenchman three games in a row to take the second set 6-3 in just 48 minutes. After the fantastic performance, Bhambri will now face ninth seed Lucas Pouille in the second round of 1000 Masters event.

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