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The dream run of Yuki Bhambri came to a disappointing end as he lost to top-seed Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei in straight sets 4-6, 3-6 in the singles final of the ATP Kaohsiung Challenger tennis tournament in Taiwan.
The 21-year-old, who was the country’s second highest ranked singles player behind Somdev Devvarman at the start of 2013 before suffering a significant ranking slump, fought hard against the 64th ranked Yen-Hsun and raised visions of a high competitive title tilt.
But Yen-Hsun did the most important thing, breaking Yuki’s serve in the fifth game to hold the advantage before serving strongly to win the opening set at 6-4.
The 477th ranked Indian failed to orchestrate any serious comeback as was evident in his determined showing when he ousted three seeded players en route to the final showdown.
The Taipei player, who became the country’s first player to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event (2012 Wimbledon Championship), got the crucial break of serve when it mattered in the second set to clinch the set and the match at 6-3.
This was Yuki’s second defeat at the hands of Yen-Hsun. Earlier, the Indian lost to him at the 2012 Singapore Challenger in straight sets.
The Indian had come through three qualifying rounds to make it to the main draw.
He scalped second seed and 88th ranked Jack Sock of USA 6-7(10), 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals.
It was Yuki’s second win over Sock in as many meetings. The Indian had accounted for the American in the third round of the 2009 Junior US Open.
Earlier, Yuki had slammed the championship exit door on scalped fourth seed and 114th ranked Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
He began the process of ousting seeded players disposing of seventh seed and 146th ranked Yuichi Sugita of Japan in straight sets 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the second round.
Yuki had launched his campaign with a win over another higher ranked player in Israel’s Amir Weintraub. Yuki accounted for the 190th ranked Israeli in straight sets 7-6 (8), 6-1.
The stellar effort should help the Indian climb up in the rankings ladder.
