Pune Challenger 2024: Niki Poonacha loses to Dane Sweeny in a thriller, Mukund Sasikumar gives walkover

While Niki Poonacha had two match points in his defeat against Dane Sweeny, Mukund Sasikumar gave a walkover to Adam Walton of Australia owing to food poisoning.

Australia’s Dane Sweeny celebrates after beating India’s Niki Poonacha in the quarterfinals of the Pune Challenger on Friday. | Photo Credit: KAMESH SRINIVASAN

Dane Sweeny of Australia saved two match points, bounced back from being down 2-5 in the decider, to beat Niki Poonacha 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) in the quarterfinals of the Maha Open Challenger at the Balewadi Stadium on Friday.

Constantly cheered by the fans, Poonacha, who had knocked out top seed Sumit Nagal in the earlier round, did everything right except the finishing act, in a gripping contest.

What a come back! From losing the 1st set to chasing down the 2nd, 3rd and winning the tie breaker.

Dane Sweeny won the match, securing a spot in the semi-finals with a score of 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3). @TennisAustralia@ATPChallenger#ATPChallengerpic.twitter.com/XJLFXtSg1s

— MSLTA (@msltatennis) February 23, 2024

To his credit, the Aussie was a fighter to the core and saved the two match points on his serve in the eighth game of the third set with incredible winners after tough rallies. He pushed Poonacha to play more balls and play sharp as well, and the errors overtook the Indian in the end. Poonacha did save two match points himself from 1-6 in the tie-break, but hit one long to bring the curtains down on his challenge.

READ | Australia’s Dane Sweeny ready to light up Challenger Tour after ITF success

It was also the end of Indian challenge, as S Mukund earlier gave a walkover to Adam Walton of Australia owing to food poisoning which needed urgent medical attention.

The doubles champions of the last two events in Chennai and Bengaluru - Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan - were beaten by the Aussie duo of Tristan Schoolkate and Walton in straight sets.

It was another bitter pill to swallow for the home fans when the top seeds Arjun Kadhe and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan also failed to win a set in their semifinal against Dan Added and Yunseong Chung.

RESULTS

Singles (quarterfinals): Dane Sweeny (Aus) bt Niki Poonacha 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3); Valentin Vacherot (Mon) bt Enzo Couacaud (Fra) 7-6(2), 6-4; Adam Walton (Aus) w.o. S Mukund; Duje Ajdukovic (Cro) bt Alexey Zakharov 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles (semifinals): Dan Added (Fra) & Yunseong Chung (Kor) bt Arjun Kadhe & Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 6-3, 6-4; Tristan Schoolkate & Adam Walton (Aus) bt Saketh Myneni & Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-6(6), 6-2.