US Open: India's Somdev makes a first-round exit

TOKYO, JAPAN – OCTOBER 03: Somdev Devvarman of India serves during his first round match against Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during day one of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 3, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.

New York, Aug 28 – India’s Somdev Devvarman made a first round exit from the men’s singles of the US Open tennis tournament, going down to Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo at Flushing Meadows here Monday.

In a battle that lasted two hours and 41 minutes, Somdev went down 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6 to the 94th ranked Spanish player.

Somdev also faced a first round exit in the London Games, where he made a comeback after a seven-month lay-off due to a wrist injury.

For the Indian, who is ranked 473rd in the ATP rankings, it was always going to be an uphill climb against the higher ranked Hidalgo.

Against Hidalgo, Somdev was poor in the first two sets but showed great spirit in pulling off the third set 6-3.

Somdev was erratic, making seven double faults compared to five made by the Spaniard. The Indian also made 55 unforced errors while Hidalgo committed 43.

Somdev also put up a great fight in the fourth set. He looked determined to take the match into the fifth and then final set. But Hidalgo always enjoyed the upper hand and Somdev went down in 51 minutes in the fourth set.