Ramkumar loses to Johnson in maiden ATP Tour final

Ramkumar, who also has a big serve as well as an appetite for attacking the net, made an impressive run to the finals in an upset-filled tournament that saw only two seeded players reach the quarter-finals.

But defeating Johnson, who did not drop more than three games in a set en route to the final, proved too big a challenge.

The 23-year-old became only the second Indian after Somdev Devvarman in 2011 to make an ATP final. Somdev had lost to Kevin Anderson in Johannesburg in that final.

The good run has fetched Ramkumar a direct entry for the $748,450 ATP Tour event in Atlanta, in which the last direct acceptance was ranked 105.

Johnson, who triumphed on clay in Houston earlier this year, relied on his big serve to win 83% of first-serve points and wrap up the final in the only U.S.-based grasscourt ATP event in just under two hours.

With the win, Johnson brought an end to Ramkumar’s bid to become the first player from India to win an ATP singles title since mentor Leander Paes prevailed in Newport 20 years ago.

The match was played three hours earlier than originally scheduled due to a possible storm in the area.