Shenzen Challenger: Mikhail Youzhny tames Prajnesh

Davis Cupper Prajnesh Gunneswaran found the former World No. 8 Mikhail Youzhny a hard nut to crack as the Russian scored a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the pre-quarterfinals of the USD 75,000 Challenger in China on Thursday.

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In doubles, however, Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan sustained the Indian challenge as they sailed into the semifinals. The duo will challenge third seeds James Cerretani of the U.S. and Toshihide Matsui of Japan.

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In a similar Challenger in the U.S., top seeds Leander Paes and Purav Raja made the quarterfinals without much fuss. The pair was scheduled to face wild card entrants Denis Kudla and Danny Thomas of the U.S. in the quarterfinals.

In the ITF men’s Futures in Kuala Lumpur, national championship finalist, qualifier Suraj Prabodh reached the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 7-6 (5) victory over Raphael Baltensperger of Switzerland.

The results

USD 75,000 Challenger men, Shenzhen, China

Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles (quarterfinals): Sriram Balaji & Vishnu Vardhan bt Teymuraz Gabashvili (Rus) & Huberkt Hurkacz (Pol) 6-4, 6-4.

USD 75,000 Challenger men, Charlottesville, U.S.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Leander Paes & Purav Raja bt Christopher Eubanks & Mackenzie Mcdonald (U.S.) 6-4, 6-0.

USD 15,000 ITF men, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Suraj Prabodh bt Raphael Baltensperger (Sui) 7-5, 7-6 (5).

Doubles (quarterfinals): Yuichi Ito (Jpn) & Nuttanon Kadchapanan (Tha) bt Kunal Anand & Sidharth Rawat 6-1, 6-3; Borna Gojo (Cro) & Jonathan Gray (GBR) bt Denis Yevseyev (Kaz) & Karunuday Singh 6-3, 6-4.