India crashes out from Chennai Open qualifiers

None of the Indian contestants could make the main draw of the Chennai Open from the qualifying event as the remaining three players crashed out after losing their second round matches in Chennai today.

None of the Indian contestants could make the main draw of the Chennai Open from the qualifying event as the remaining three players crashed out after losing their second round matches in Chennai on Sunday.

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While Vishnu Vardhan and Karanuday Singh fought well before losing, Rupesh Roy hardly troubled his opponent. Vardhan, who won mixed doubles gold with Sania Mirza at Asian Games, came back strong from the first game drubbing but lost 1-6 4-6 to Ante Pavic of Croatia. Singh went down fighting 3-6 5-7 against world number 120 Go Soeda of Japan.

Roy was ousted by 3-6 1-6 by Konstantin Kravchuk of Russia.

In a game that was a battle between two baseliners, Singh struggled to return Soeda's serves and lost the first set 3-6. However, the 20-year-old Indian came back strongly in the second and went 5-4 up after trailing 2-4. Soeda made too many unforced errors but Singh could not cash on his rival's shortcomings and the Indian lost the game 5-7 from having a good chance to level the match.

Another person of Indian origin, Rajeev Ram lost 0-6 6-4 5-7 to Alexandre Kudryavtsev of Russia. Kudryatsev will meet Pavic for a spot in the main draw tomorrow, while Kravchuk will meet Yuichi Sugita of Japan.

Results: Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Evgeny Kirillov 6-2 7-5; E R Vasselin (FRA) bt Skugor (CRO) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Go Soeda (JPN) bt Karunuday Singh (IND) 6-3, 7-5; Konstanstin Kravchuk (RUS) bt Rupesh Roy (IND) 6-3 6-1; Yuichi Sugita (JPN) bt Leos Friedl (CZE) by walk over; Ivo Minar (CZE) bt David Goffin (BEL) 6-4, 6-3; Ante Pavic (CRO) bt Vishnu Vardhan (IND) 6-1, 6-4; Alexandre Kudryavtsev (RUS) bt Rajeev Ram (USA) 6-0, 4-6 7-5.