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Rediff.com  » Sports » Bhambri qualifies for Aus Open, to face Baghdatis in opener

Bhambri qualifies for Aus Open, to face Baghdatis in opener

Source: PTI
Last updated on: January 14, 2018 18:31 IST
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Ramkumar Ramanathan missed out on his maiden Grand Slam appearance as he lost his third round qualifying match to Canada's Vasek Pospisil.

Yuki Bhambri

IMAGE: Yuki Bhambri in action. Photograph: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

India’s Yuki Bhambri, on Sunday, qualified for the Australian Open with a come-from-behind win but Ramkumar Ramanathan missed out on his maiden Grand Slam appearance.

The 25-year old Bhambri overcame a first set lapse to tame Canadian Peter Polansky 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the third and final qualifying round in one hour and 55 minutes.

 

He will take on Cyprus' seasoned campaigner Marcos Baghdatis, who was the 2006 finalist at the Australian Open.

It will be third Australian Open men's singles main draw for Bhambri, who had lost in the first round in 2015 and 2016 to Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych respectively.

Meanwhile, Ramkumar had a break chance in the fifth game of the decider but could not convert and eventually lost his third round match 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 to Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

At Grand Slams, it is Ramkumar's best show, reaching the final qualifying round.

Bhambri, who was junior world number one, had won Australian Open boys singles tile here in 2009 and has played only at this Grand Slam in the main draw since turning Pro.

Asked what makes him perform at MelbournePark, Bhambri told PTI," I don't know what makes me play better here. Maybe the conditions suit me or I am just familiar with it because I have played here before."

In his first two attempts, Bhambri could not make much of the chance as he drew very strong opponents for his opening matches.

"I am hoping that I can win a few rounds in the main draw," said Bhambri, who won his sixth ATP Challenger title in Pune in November.

Asked about the first set against the Canadian World No 140, Bhambri said, "It was a nervous start but once I got my rhythm, I started playing more freely." 

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