Sasi Kumar, Saketh, Sumit qualify for Shenzhen Challenger

The three players joined Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran to strengthen the Indian presence in the main draw.

Sasi Kumar Mukund in action. (File Photo)

Sasi Kumar Mukund beat Yaraslaf Shyla of Belarus 6-4, 7-5 to make the main draw of the $75,000 Challenger tennis tournament in China on Monday.

It was a commendable effort by the former Commonwealth Youth champion, as Mukund had warded off a stiff challenge from fourth seed Emil Rusuvuori of Finland 6-7(13), 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round before stopping Matej Sabanov of Croatia 6-3, 7-5 in the second.

Two other Indian players, Sumit Nagal and Saketh Myneni also made the main draw, as they beat compatriots Arjun Kadhe and Sidharth Rawat respectively.

The second-seeded Sumit beat Arjun 6-4, 7-6(4) but third seed Saketh had to wage a grim battle against Sidharth Rawat before he prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5).

The three players joined Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran to strengthen the Indian presence in the main draw. In fact, Sumit will face third seed Ramkumar in the first round.

In the ITF men’s Futures in Thailand, national champion Siddharth Vishwakarma beat Wei-De Lin of Chinese Taipei  7-5, 6-4 in the third and final round, to qualify for the main draw.