Tennis News

At $450K Chennai Open ATP Tennis Tournament, India (5 - 11 Jan 2009)

Sorry for poor video and photos, as captured through digital camera on TV .... ;-)

[QF] (WC) Somdev Devvarman (IND,202) bt (4) Ivo Karlovic (CRO,25) 76(4) 64

Doubles
[QF] (1) Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/ Mark Knowles (BAH) l Jean-Claude Scherrer (SUI)/ Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 63 36 (8)10

What a day for Indian tennis!!! We r seeing Indian player in Chennai Open semi-final after 1998 when Leander lost to Rafter in the singles semis.

Somdev repeated history beating WR #25 Ivo Karlovic in straight sets in 1hr., 26min, this was his first win over top-25 player but I know many will come ... In complete match both players didn't face break-point until last game ... Som won the match converting second match point on Karlovic's serve, when Karlovic's volley went outside returning Som's powerful return on his forehand.

Som played very calculated tennis as he planned before the match ... Yesterday after Moya's match he mentioned tomorrow against big server Karlovic his main aim to hold his own serve ... Today he didn't face a single break-point and served 6 aces in comparison 10 aces by Karlovic ... Som played excellent tennis from back of the court ... Many time in the match he hit passing shots approaching Karlovic at net ... Som mixed his backside game with sometime approaching the net ... Very impressed with execution of Som's game plan in the match.

Tomorrow Som having tricky match against 5th seed and WR #33 Rainer Schuettler, who also play same counter-punching style of Som ... But with current increased confidence and backing from excellent home crowd it will difficult to beat Somi!!!