Ramkumar Ramanathan Triumphs in Maha Open Challenger, Sets Up Second-Round Clash

In a thrilling display of tennis prowess, Ramkumar Ramanathan outplayed the reigning champion Stefano Napolitano in the first round of the $133,250 Maha Open Challenger tennis tournament at the Balewadi Stadium on Tuesday. The Indian ace served with precision and executed intelligent strokes, turning the tide in his favor in both sets.

Ramkumar, once ranked 111, showcased his resilience and determination throughout the match. Despite a slow start, he elevated his game when it mattered most, particularly with his powerful serve. He fired 15 aces and displayed imaginative stroke play, keeping Napolitano on the back foot.

The 28-year-old Indian converted one of the nine break points in the match, while Napolitano capitalized on one of two break points early on. Ramkumar's victory sets up a second-round clash with qualifier Alexey Zakharov, while Sumit Nagal, who had earlier secured a hard-fought victory, will face compatriot Niki Poonacha.

In the doubles competition, the woes of Sriram Balaji and Andre Begemann continued as the fourth seeds suffered a first-round defeat despite having a match point. Coach M Balachandran attributed their loss to a lack of confidence and poor execution in tie-breaks and return games.

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