ITF Futures: Saketh in semifinals

Qualifier Ajai Selvaraj’s dream run in the tournament ended as third-seed Saketh Myneni had the measure of him in the quarterfinals of the Dr KCG Verghese-GNC ITF Futures here on Thursday. Selvaraj, who had earlier accounted for better-seeded players, was helpless against the well-rounded game of Myneni, who had cl­­a­imed his second Futures title last week.

Myneni, now, would be the favourite for the title, as top seed Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan conceded his game to N Vijay Sundar Prashanth due to an­­kle injury. The latter, thus, progressed without hitting a single ball. He though has his task cut out against Frenchman Antoine Escoffier, seeded fourth, who sent Thailand’s Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana on his way out.

Results (men’s singles quarterfinal): 4-Antoine Escoffier (FRA) bt Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) 6-4, 6-2; 3-Saketh Myneni (IND) bt Ajai Selvaraj (IND) 6-2, 6-1; 6-N Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND) bt 1-Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) W/O; 7-Hyun-Woo Nam (KOR) bt Arjun Kadhe (IND) 6-2, 6-2. Men’s doubles semifinals: 1-Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA)/Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana (THA) bt Antoine Escoffier (FRA)/Bastien Favier (FRA) 6-3, 6-3; 2-Saketh Myneni (IND)/R Arun Prakash (IND) bt 4-Kaza Vinayak Sharma (IND)/Ashwin Vijayragavan (IND) 5-7, 6-2, [10-7].