If you're joining us only now in the tournament, you've certainly missed a lot of action over the course of the days gone by. The giants have been hunted down and new champions await coronation here in Pune. Big news: Leander Paes, Benoit Paire and the Indian prospects in the singles draws have all crashed out. This is, in fact, Paes' last ATP Tour on home soil considering this is his farewell season. Benoit Paire found himself on the losing side in his singles and doubles fixtures yesterday, bidding farewell to the tournament, a trophy here still eluding the top seed.
Here's what we have in store for you today - the first men's doubles semifinals and the quarterfinals in the men's singles. This is Lavanya bringing you the updates as they happen.
Our correspondent
Anjana Senthil will bring us live coverage from Pune.
Results:
MS: Jiří Veselý beat Ilya Ivashka 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (13-11)
MS: Ričardas Berankis beat Yūichi Sugita 4-6, 7-6 (6-4), 6-2
MS: James Duckworth beats Roberto Marcora 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
MS:
Egor Gerasimov beats Soon Woo Kwon 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4
MD:
Andre Goransson/ Christopher Rungkat beat Romain Arneodo/ Andre Begemann 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
Men's Singles: Kwon Soon-Woo vs Egor Gerasimov
And it's Gerasimov who takes the set and the game. Easy 6-4 win to seal his place in the semifinal.
Not so fast! Gerasimov wants to burn the midnight oil! He rallies and claims the second set, 7-6 (7-1). Decider set!
The second set has both players fighting evenly. Gerasimov takes the slightest of leads, currently ahead in this second set 4-3.
Kwon has taken the first set 6-4. He wants this wrapped up early and the intent shows.
It's 10.36pm and we have our last game of the night, the last quarterfinal of the Men's Singles in this tournament.
Men's Singles: Roberto Marcora vs James Duckworth
James Duckworth has soldiered on and taken the second set, despite a valiant effort by Robert Marcora in the second set that went into a tiebreak. Duckworth takes the set 7-6 (7-4).
Duckworth is a brilliant. He evens the scores. 4-4 in Pune now.
Renewed vigor from Marcora here but the contest is as close as ever. Marcora leads Duckworth 3-2 in the second set so far.
Marcora looks out of colour today as Duckworth easily takes the first set 6-3. We wonder if the Italian can bounce back. A new set, a new start. Marcora needs two sets to win, Duckworth needs one.
Marcora is off to a slow start and Duckworth has rightly taken advantage. The lattern leads the set 4-2.
It's Italy vs Australia in the clash we are looking forward to the most here in Pune today. Both these players had thrilling games yesterday to book their places in the quarters and will make for interesting competitors for that semifinal spot.
Men's Singles: Yūichi Sugita vs Ričardas Berankis
Yes, he does. Berankis takes the set 6-2, to register a progressively win over Sugita.
Berankis elads the third and final set 4-1. Can he run away with the match and secure a spot in the semifinal?
Berankis has salvaged the set! Lovely performance on display here. He takes the set 7-6 (7-4). We move into the decider set now.
Now the match is getting interesting. We are tied 5-5 in the second set between Sugita and Berankis. Berankis has pegged back, claiming a few vital points to keep him alive. If he loses this set, he loses the QF.
Sugita leads the second set 4-3.
Sugita takes the first set 6-4, after a neck-to-neck contest for most part of this set. Well deserved game in the bag for the Japanese player.
This is going to be a long game. An scoreline of 4-4 in the first set itself tells a story of its own. Sugita and Berankis have been matching the other's tactics, keeping each other on their toes. It'll be interesting to see who comes out on top in this one.
Men's doubles: Romain Arneodo/ Andre Begemann vs Andre Goransson/ Christopher Rungkat
Arneodo and Begemann take the second set into a tiebreak, but it's all too easy for Goransson and Rungkat who take the set 7-6 (7-1), and consequently the game. They will meet the winners of tomorrow's semifinal
Goransson and Rungkat have drawn first blood, taking the first set 6-4. If they win this match, they stand to face the winners of Erlich/Vasilevski vs Raja/Ramanathan semifinal tie that will take place tomorrow.
Men's Singles: Jiří Veselý vsIlya Ivashka , first quarterfinal tie of the day.
Vesely takes the game after a gruelling decider set 7-6 (13-11). Talk about Marathon games! He moves into the semifinal of the Maharashtra Open.
Both have won a set each with the third tied 6-6. Going right down to the wire, this one.
Where to watch
Matches from the Tata Open Maharashtra can be watched on the Star Sports Network. You can also stream the matches LIVE on the go on Hotstar.
Day 4 in brief:
It was a day of upsets here in the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune. The only Indian in the fray in the men's singles, Prajnesh Gunneswaran bowed out, losing to Soon Woon Kwon, but not before putting up a spirited resistence. The day also brought heartbreak for Paes and Paire. Top seed Benoit Paire crashed out of the singles draws, losing to Italian qualifier Roberto Marcora. He also lost his doubles match with partner Hoang. Andre Goransson and Christopher Rungkat beat Paire-Hoang 6-3, 6-3 - ending the Frenchman's stint on the court in Pune for the year. Paes, who was playing his last ATP tour tournament here in India, also tamely bowed out, losing to Ramkumar Ramanathan and Purav Raja. The latter duo was phenomenal giving Paes and partner Matthew Ebden no room to wriggle out a point, winning the game 6-2, 6-1.
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