Ramkumar shown the door
KOLKATA OPEN Chinese Taipei’s Chen snuffs out Indian challenge in three tough sets
KOLKATA: After four days of gradually diminishing presence, the Indian challenge in the $50,000 Kolkata Open ended on Thursday when Ramkumar Ramanathan messed up his lines and lost 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei.
Last year, Somdev Devvarman was the lone Indian in the penultimate round. On Friday too, he will be teaming with Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan for a berth in the final of doubles, a format Devvarman said he plays for fun. In 2014, Yuki Bhambri had come here on the back of a double in Chennai but left early. This time, after the high of an all-Indian final in New Delhi last week, Bhambri exited in the pre-quarter final as did Sanam Singh. Ramanathan was the only other Indian who won a round here.
“Most Indian players don’t work enough on their lower body. Yuki’s got an all-court game and with his talent he should really have been in the top 100 by now but injuries kept coming in the way. Life becomes very difficult for those who can’t move from the 250s to the top 100 in one year or so,” said for Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjea.
“Yuki and Som continue to be India’s best players. Once Yuki gets strength back in his legs, he will win more. Indian players must learn to be able to play three-four tough matches and still be competitive next week,” said former India coach Akhtar Ali.
Ramanathan fights, has a big serve and isn’t afraid to attack but in the quarter-final, the temptation to play safe overcame everything he had said about being aggressive.
Chen often pinned Ramanathan on the backhand and he replied with the slice. Ramanathan did well to overcome an early break in the decider but at 15-40 in the fifth game, failed to exploit a weak serve from Chen.
Firing a forehand crosscourt drive followed by a forehand winner, Ramanathan had two break points in the seventh game which Chen saved. The Indian did take the game and lead 4-3 but couldn’t hold serve in the next game and when Chen led 5-4, it was after Ramanathan netted a backhand slice. It was another weak backhand from the Indian that let Chen save a break point in the 11th game and when Ramanathan double-faulted in the tie-breaker at 3-3, the goodly crowd knew there wouldn’t be another comeback.
“Ramanthan has a future but needs to work on his strategy, fitness and, of course, the backhand. In tennis, there is no place to hide your weakness,” said Ali.
Ramanathan said he maintains a diary and it is possible he would take a lot of notes back to his coaches in Barcelona.
RESULTS
Singles QF: Ti Chen (Tpe) bt Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5); James Duckworth (Ausx1) bt Egor Gerasimov (Blr) 6-4, 6-2; R Bemelmans (Bel) bt Richard Becker (Ger) 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 6-2; R Albot (Mda, 6) bt A Kudryavtsev (Rusx2) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Doubles QF: J Duckworth /L Saville (Aus) bt Ramanathan/Divij Sharan (Ind) 6-1, 6-4.