Day 1 - PSA/WISPA Indian Challenger - Kolkata

Saurav Ghosal began his PSA Indian Challenger campaign in style, walloping Aaron Frankcomb of Australia 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 at the Calcutta Racket Club on Wednesday. It took the national champion just 42 minutes to book a quarterfinal berth, as Ghosal’s opponent simply had no answers to his winners and precise drop-shots.

Saurav Ghosal

The first set was just a mere formality as Frankcomb was all at sea adjusting to the pace and bounce of the court before committing plenty of unforced errors. The world number 43 did put up a fight in the second set to take a 4-2 lead. But losing his temper over certain decisions of the referee together with his errors, Frankcomb squandered the advantage, while Ghosal lifted his game during crucial junctures to pile on the Aussie’s agony.

However, Ghosal’s real test lies on Thursday when he locks horns with top-seed Adrian Grant. “I need to play much better than how I did today. It’s important not to let Adrian gain his rhythm. I will have to create a structure that puts Adrian out of his comfort zone,” he stressed.

Grant, on the other hand, did face a few difficulties on his way to a 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7 win over qualifier Chris Simpson. In fact, his compatriot made him stretch for almost all points before bowing down finally to Grant’s class and experience.

In other matches, second-seed Cameron Pilley of Australia got through qualifier Nafiizwan Adnan 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, while Malaysian Mohammand Azlan Iskandar ousted Siddhanth Suchde 11-5, 11-6, 11-5.

In the WISPA section, both Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal had easy rides in the first round. Fourth-seed Dipika made short work of England’s Zephanie Curgenven, brushing her aside 11-3, 11-2, 12-10 in just 24 minutes. Joshna had a minor hiccup in the second set, but eventually beat Australian Maggy Marshall 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6.

Indian Challenger

Wednesday 14-Apr-10

PSA Indian Challenger #7

R16

Adrian Grant, ENG, def. Chris Simpson, ENG, 11-7 9-11 11-3 11-7 .

Saurav Ghosal, IND, def. Aaron Frankcomb, AUS, 11-4 11-6 11-5 .

Mohamed El Shorbagy, EGY, def. Renan Lavigne, FRA, 11-2 11-9 11-7 .

Ong Beng Hee, MAS, def. Muhd Asyraf Azan, MAS, 11-5 11-8 6-11 11-9 .

Tarek Momen, EGY, def. Max Lee, HKG, 11-9 11-7 8-11 11-8 .

Mohd Azlan Iskandar, MAS, def. Siddharth Suchde, IND, 11-5 11-6 11-5 .

Jonathan Kemp, ENG, def. Julian Illingworth, USA, 11-5 11-6 11-7 .

Cameron Pilley, AUS, def. Mohd Nafizwan Adnan, MAS, 11-6 7-11 11-8 11-6 .

WISPA Indian Challenger #5

R16

Sharon Wee, MAS, def. Nada Elkalaawy, EGY, 12-10 11-1 11-6 .

Aparajitha Balamurukan, IND, def. Harshit Kaur Jawanda, IND, 11-2 14-12 11-4 .

Dipika Pallikal, IND, def. Zephanie Curgenven, ENG, 11-3 11-2 12-10 .

Anaka Alankamony, IND, def. Surbhi Misra, IND, 8-11 14-16 11-6 11-7 11-3 .

Gaby Schmohl, SUI, def. Anwesha Reddy, IND, 2-11 11-4 11-7 11-2 .

Joshna Chinappa, IND, def. Maggy Marshall, AUS, 11-6 9-11 11-3 11-6 .

Milou Van Der Heijden, NED, def. Catalina Pelaez, COL, 8-11 11-8 11-3 11-7 .

Emma Beddoes, ENG, def. Ankita Sharma, IND, 11-2 11-7 11-6 .