India’s Yuki Bhambri qualified for the main draw of the Australian Open, beating Canada’s Peter Polansky in the third and final qualifying match 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne on Sunday. However, Ramkumar Ramanathan went down in a tough three-setter to another Canadian Vasek Pospisil 4-6, 6-4, 4-6.
The world number 121 had to work his way through the qualifying rounds as he did not get a direct berth for the season’s first Grand Slam. The 25-year old Bhambri went down in the first set to Canadian Peter Polansky 1-6. He fighted back and won the next two set 6-3, 6-3, to book a place in the main draw. Read: Deciding on new aims & goals is quite difficult, at the age of 44, says Leander Paes
Bhambri struggled to hold even a single serve in the first set against lower-ranked Polansky. However, he came back strong to take the match without letting his opponent break even a single serve in the last two sets.
He will take on 32 year old, Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the first round. Marcos is the former runner up of Australian open from 2006.
India’s top-ranked men’s singles player will contest in third Australian Open men’s singles main draw. For Bhambri who had lost in the first round in 2015 and 2016 to Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych respectively.
The young Delhi lad will be eager to make a mark, in the first Grand Slam of the year. Yuki Bhambri defeated Frenchman Gael Monfills in City open last year. He also won ATP Challenger in Pune. Which can be a moral booster to his preparation ahead of the main draw, starting 15th January in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Ramkumar had a break chance in the fifth game of the decider but could not convert and eventually lost his third round match 4-6 6-4 4-6 to Canadian Vasek Pospisil. At Grand Slams, it is Ramkumar’s best show, reaching the final qualifying round.
Leander Paes alongside Purav Raja will contest in men doubles.
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