New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) India’s Somdev Devvarman entered the men’s singles semifinals of the $100,000 ONGC GAIL Delhi Open ATP Challenger at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Complex here Friday.
Unseeded Chinese Ze Zhang ceded the match after losing the opening set 2-6 in 35 minutes to the second seed, giving Devvarman an easy route to the last four.
Meanwhile, wildcard pair Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh beat fourth seeds Adrian Menendez-Maceiraz (Spain) and Aleksandr Nedovyesov (Kazakhstan) 6-3, 6-2 in 52 minutes to proceed to the men’s doubles final.
Myneni and Sanam will take on Thai second seeds and twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana in the summit clash after the Thai combine beat wildcard duo of Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vishnu Vardhan 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 in one hour and 14 minutes.
In the singles match, the World No.96 Devvarman was leading 6-2 when the Chinese retired citing a shoulder injury. Zhang had injured his right shoulder before this match and could not play the second set.
The 29-year-old Indian converted three of his four break points while the Chinese also broke the Indian once.
Devvarman was up 5-0 when Zhang took time out for medical treatment. Post the break, he seemed to have reinvigorated and was back to winning ways, clinching back-to-back games. But Devvarman eventually held his serve to close out the set after which the Chinese retired.
Devvarman will next play Russian fourth seed Evgeny Donskoy Saturday, who beat Radu Albot of Moldova 6-2, 6-2 in 57 minutes in the other quarterfinal.
