Saketh Myneni bags final wild card for Bengaluru Open

Saketh Myneni bags final wild card for Bengaluru Open


Bengaluru (Sakal Times): Saketh Myneni one of India’s most decorated tennis players in the recent times was awarded the final wild card by the organisers of the Bengaluru Open 2018. The $ 150,000 + H prize money event kicks off at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association from Saturday.
 
Saketh joins Suraj Prabodh, defending champion Sumit Nagal and Adil Kalyanpur amongst the list of Wild Cards awarded for the main round of the prestigious event. “Firstly, a big congratulation to all the organisers for making the Bengaluru Open bigger than the previous year. It is one of the biggest challenger tournaments in Asia and it will be a great opportunity for all the Indian players as well as tennis fans,” said the lanky pro who won the coveted Arjuna Award last year.

Saketh is coming after a semifinal loss in the doubles event of the Shenzhen Challenger last month partnering Ramkumar Ramanathan and is currently ranked 315 in singles on the ATP ranking list, a jump of 298 places after he had finished the year 2017 with a ranking of 613. He is also ranked 213 in doubles.

“I hope to utilize this opportunity and perform to the best of my abilities,” said Saketh whose only win this season has been the Uzbekistan F2 Futures title and has had a couple of bridesmaid finishes on the Futures Circuit.

Saketh had withdrawn from the last edition of the Bengaluru Open even before he had played his first match as the injury he was nursing had flared up. “It is always exciting to play in our home country. I am looking forward to the Bengaluru Open 2018,” said Saketh who had won the Gold medal in Mixed Doubles and a silver in the men’s doubles at the Incheon Asian Games 2014.

“We are happy to confirm the Wild Card to Saketh who has emerged as a revelation to Indian tennis. He has had a phenomenal jump in the rankings in the last few years and went on to represent India in the Davis Cup apart from a stellar performance in the Asian Games. The Bengaluru Open just got strengthened with Saketh’s participation and I am sure the spectators will enjoy his booming serves,” said Sunil Yajaman, Tournament Director.

qualifiers from today 

  •  The main draw will comprise of 32 players with the break-up being the top 22 players (entries based on world rankings), four wild card entries, two special exemption entries and four qualifiers for the men’s singles category. The draw ceremony would be held at KSLTA.
  • Radu Albot of Moldova and Russian Evgeny Donskoy ranked 89th and 99th respectively are the top players in the top-100 to make it to Bengaluru Open. Prajnesh Gunneswaran (ranked 146th) is the lone Indian to get into the main draw of 32. Jordan Thomson (Australia, No. 101), Ricardas Berankia (Lithuania, No. 131), Elias Ymer (Sweden, No. 133), Marc Polmans (Australia, No. 145) and Simone Bolelli (Italy (No. 147) are all in the under-150 ranking list.
  •  The winner will take home US $ 21,600 and more importantly 125 ATP points which will help the winner to improve his ranking drastically. The doubles winners will earn US $ 9300 as well as 125 ATP points.
     

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com