Asian Games tennis: Somdev, Sanam take India to team semis

GUANGZHOU - Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh won their singles matches against Thailand to take India to the semifinal of the men’s team event with a 2-1 victory at the Asian Games here Sunday.

Sanam dispatched 546th-ranked Kittiphong Wachiramanowong 6-1, 6-4 in the first rubber and then Somdev, world no.106 and Commonwealth gold medallist, sealed the issue for India after carving out a fighting 7-5, 7-5 victory over 464th-ranked Danai Udomchoke.

Vishnu Vardhan and Karan Rastogi, however, lost to Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 6-3, 3-6, 2-6 in the doubles match. India, seeded fourth, next play top seeds Chinese Taipei.

Sanam gave India a roaring start as he raced away with the match against the 20-year-old Wachiramanowong in a mere 68 minutes. After being outplayed in the first set, the young Thai gave Sanam a good fight in the second, but the Indian succeeded in closing out the set and the match.

In the second rubber, the serve dominated the first set before Somdev broke 29-year-old Udomchoke in the 11th game to go up a set. The two exchanged early breaks in the second but Somdev clinched the decisive break in the 11th game to win the match after a one hour and 43 minute struggle.