Ningbo Challenger: Sumit Nagal, Saketh Myneni bow out

Both Indians exit in the first round after contrasting defeats.

File Photo: Sumit Nagal lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 against Thomas Fabbiano.

Sumit Nagal suffered a first round exit after a valiant fight and Saketh Myneni, his compatriot, suffered a tame defeat as India’s singles challenge shrunk at the ATP Ningbo Challenger on Tuesday.

Nagal lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 after battling for little over two hours against third seed Thomas Fabbiano in the opening round of the USD 150,000 tournament. “It was a good match which moved indoors after rain and it worked in his favour. Both of us played at a high level but I was unable to sustain towards the end of the second and third sets,” Nagal told PTI after the match.

Myneni, who entered the singles main draw via a qualifier, lost his opening match 6-3, 6-2 to Renta Tokuda in one hour and 17 minutes. Ramkumar Ramanathan had also lost his first round, leaving Prajnesh Gunneswaran as the only Indian left in the singles competition.

Nagal and Myneni also feature in the doubles draw with their respective partners.