Chennai Qualifying:
Somdev Devvarman managed to turn a match around against James Ward 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. Ward had come out of the blocks hot, as he lost just four points on serve in the opening set. Devvarman posted underwhelming numbers on both counts as he was broken twice without reply. The Indian, formerly ranked as high as No. 62 did then manage to turn things around in tight second and third sets. Devverman was able to break Ward twice in each, and limited Ward to just one recovery in each for the win.
There was no such luck for the other home players left in the draw. Saketh Myneni was beaten in straight sets by third seed Thomas Fabbiano 6-4, 6-2, and N. Siriam Balaji went down it two tight tie-break sets to Ante Pavic, 7-6, 7-6. Josef Kovalik was able to spring another mini upset as he beat fourth seed Alexander Kudryavtsev 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. Kudryavtsev found himself just two points from victory in the second set tie-break, but Kovalik levelled, and Kudryavtsev then capitulated, winning just one game in the final set.
Brisbane Qualifying:
It was once again an unhappy day for American players in Brisbane, as Tim Smyczek and Jared Donaldson joined earlier departee Dennis Novikov in bowing out before reaching the main draw. Donaldson as the sixth seed put up a strong battle against the experienced Ivan Dodig, but ultimately losing 6-3, 3-6,6-4. Donaldson improved upon his first meeting with Dodig, where he had lost 6-3, 6-2 in Wimbledon qualifying last year. Ernests Gulbis was also a victim, the top seed being defeated by Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, 6-3, 6-4. Tobias Kamke won back-to-back matches as he beat Jurgen Zopp 6-3, 6-2 but the biggest story of the day once again belonged to a certain teenage Australian
Oliver Anderson had recovered from the loss of the first set to beat Dennis Novikov yesterday, and he did the same again as he recovered to beat Tim Smyczek 6-7, 7-6, 6-2. It will be the first time that Anderson will play in the main draw of an ATP event.
The four winners of each qualifying event will now be inserted into the main draws of their respective events. The qualifying event for Doha is yet to be completed though Kyle Edmund, Dustin Brown and surprisingly Aslan Karatsev were all winners and will feature in the main draw there.
