Chennai: In a day of upsets, rookie Ramkumar Ramanathan announced his arrival on the big stage with an upset win over Somdev Devvarman in the first round of the 19th Chennai Open on Tuesday.
Ramkumar beat the top-ranked Indian player 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a marathon battle.
Meanwhile, young Yuki Bhambri too sprung a surprise by upsetting higher-rated Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain to enter the second round of the ATP Chennai Open.
Yuki, ranked 195 in the world, took 76 minutes to stun 64th ranked Busta 6-4 6-3 in the opening round to set up a clash against third seed Fablo Fognini of Italy in the pre-quarterfinals.
Russian qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev sent packing eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in a long 107-minute tussle.
Kudryavtsev beat the 58th ranked Spaniard 6-4 3-6 6-3 and will now play Slovakian Aljaz Bedene in the next round.
RESULTS - DECEMBER 31, 2013
Men's
Singles - First Round
[6] M Granollers (ESP) d [Q] R Albot (MDA) 64 36 60
[7] E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) d A Ramos (ESP) 61 63
[Q] A Kudryavtsev (RUS) d [8] R Bautista Agut (ESP) 64 36 63
B Becker (GER) d J Reister (GER) 64 21 Retired
A Bedene (SLO) d [Q] H Laaksonen (SUI) 63 57 76(0)
[WC] Y Bhambri (IND) d P Carreno Busta (ESP) 64 63
[Q] R Ramanathan (IND) d S Devvarman (IND) 46 63 64
G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d O Nedovyesov (KAZ) 75 60
Men's
Doubles - First Round
[1] R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) d B Paire (FRA) / S Wawrinka (SUI) 64 46 11-9
