Tamil Nadu’s Balaji-Vardhan duo enters Chennai Open Challenger final

It was smooth sailing for the second seeded Tamil Nadu boys as they got the better of the Indo-Swiss pair in straight sets. They are now favourites to win the men’s doubles title as top seeds Sonchat Ratiwatana- Sanchai Ratiwatana bowed out in the other semi-final. 

Ilkel/ Petrovic stole the show as the pair defeated the Number 1 seeds 7-6, 2-6, 10-8. The duo came up trumps in the super tie-breaker after the pairs were squared up at one each at the end of two sets. 

In the men’s singles, Yuki Bhambri continued to be the last Indian standing as he stormed into the semi-final with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama. Bhambri came from behind, pocketing the final two sets with ease. 

Top seed Jordon Thompson continued his good run, knocking out Danilo Petrovic 6-4, 3-0. Third seed Duckhee Lee moved into the final four by defeating French Antoine Escoffier 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in another quarter-final. Mohamed Safwat was denied a spot in the semis after losing to Pedro Martinez 5-7, 2-6. 

Results: Men’s Singles (Quarter-finals): Yuki Bhmabri beat Yasutaka Uchiyama 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Jordon Thompson beat Danilo Petrovic 6-4, 3-0; Duckhee Lee beat Antoine Escoffier 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Pedro Martinez beat Mohamed Safwat 7-5, 6-2 

Men’s Doubles (Semi-finals): N Sriram Balaji/ Vishnu Vardhan beat Luca Margaroli/ Saketh Myneni 6-3, 7-5; Cem Ilkel/ Danilo Petrovic beat Sonchat Ratiwatana/ Sanchai Ratiwatana 7-6 (5), 2-6, 10-8