Vishnu Vardhan in Challenger doubles final in Astana

The Indian, partnering Toshihide Matsui of Japan, defeated Sadio Doumbia of France and Michal Konecny of the Czech Republic in the USD 125,000 men’s Challenger in Astana.

Vishnu Vardhan and his Japanese doubles partner Toshihide Matsui safely negotiated two tie-breaks in their win.

Top seeds, Vishnu Vardhan in partnership with Toshihide Matsui of Japan negotiated two tie-breaks with competence to beat Sadio Doumbia of France and Michal Konecny of the Czech Republic in the USD 125,000 men’s Challenger tennis tournament in Astana on Friday.

There was more success for Indian doubles, as third seeds Leander Paes in partnership with Samm Groth made the Hall of Fame ATP event semifinals. However, fourth seeds Purav Raja and Divij Sharan lost in two tie-breaks to the Aussies Matt Reid and John-Patrick Smith.

In the USD 60,000 ITF women’s semifinals in Bursa, Ankita Raina went down fighting in three sets to the top Ipek Soylu of Turkey.

In the USD 15,000 ITF women’s event in Romania, Riya Bhatia was beaten in 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. After holding serve for 5-4, saving two breakpoints, Riya managed to win two points in all in the next three games against sixth seed Miriam Bianca Bulgaru.

In a similar tournament in Thaland, Dhruthi Venugopal was beaten in straight sets in the semifinals by qualifier Hua-Chen Lee of Chinese Taipei.

The results

USD 600,345 ATP Halll of Fame Open, Newport, U.S.

Doubles (quarterfinals): Sam Groth (Aus) & Leander Paes bt Wesley

Koolhof (Ned) & Artem Sitak (Nzl) 6-4, 6-1; Matt Reid & John-Patrick

Smith (Aus) bt Purav Raja & Divij Sharan 7-6(5), 7-6(4).

USD 125,000 Challenger men, Astana, Kazakhstan

Doubles (semifinals): Toshihide Matsui (Jpn) & Vishnu Vardhan bt Sadio

Doumbia (Fra) & Michal Konecny (Cze) 7-6(5), 7-6(1).

USD 60,000 ITF women, Bursa, Turkey

Singles (semifinals): Ipek Soylu (Tur) bt Ankita Raina 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

USD 15,000 ITF women, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Singles (pre-quarterfinals): Rutuja Bhosale bt Ramu Ueda (Jpn) 6-2, 6-4; Jacquelline Cabaj Awad (Swe) bt Snehal Mane 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles (quarterfinals): Mayar Sherif (Egy) & Rutuja Bhosale bt Emily Fanning (Nzl) & Eva Siska (US) 7-5, 6-3.

USD 15,000 ITF women, Targu Jiu, Romania

Singles (quarterfinals): Miriam Bianca Bulgaru (Rou) bt Riya Bhatia 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

USD 15,000 ITF women, Hua Hin, Thailand

Singles (semifinals): Hua-Chen Lee (Tpe) bt Dhruthi Venugopal 6-3, 6-4.