Flushing Meadows (New York) : Ramkumar Ramanathan, Sumit Nagal and Ankita Raina put up good show before going down in the first round of singles match in the US Open Qualifying at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, here.
All three Indian players extended their first round matches to three sets each. Ramkumar Ramanathan engaged his opponent Russian Evgeny Donskoy for two hours and thirty five minutes before losing a close and well-contested match. The Russian won by 4-6 7-6 (1) 6-4.
Ramkumar unleashed 10 aces but committed 12 double faults while his rival fired four aces and committed five double faults. Ramkumar kept his first service 58 per cent (67/115). Donskoy kept his first service 58 per cent in (64/114). Ramkumar won two out of eight breakpoints while Donskoy won two of five breakpoints.
Sumit Nagal, who originally hails from Jhajjar (Haryana) put up tough resistance against Juan Pablo of Argentina. In the thrilling match which lasted two hour and 22 minutes Juan Pablo prevailed over his tough opponents in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Juan Pablo recorded 16 double faults while committing a solitary double fault. Sumit Nagal served four aces and committed the same number for double faults. Sumit could win two of 11 breakpoints while the Argentinian won three out of four breakpoints.
India’s Ankita Raina was defeated by American Jamie Loeb who won 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in one hour and 56 minutes. Ankita won five out of nine breakpoints while the American opponent won six out of 10 breakpoints.
The first round qualifying round carries a prize money of $20,000 while the total prize money and players compensation is $57.5 million.
The fourth Indian Prajnesh Gunneswaran will face Brayden Schnur of Canada.
