In early singles in play in Chennai there was a surprise as Ante Pavic ignored a nearly four hundred ranking difference to defeat former top ten star Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-5, 7-6.
Affairs had looked to be going according to ranking early on as Almagro took the first set 6-3. The Spaniard now ranked No. 73, broke twice, and managed to avoid a comeback from Pavic in taking the first set. The Croatian though ten settled behind stronger serving, with his ace count increasing in each set. Almagro also struggled to make as strong an impression on the Pavic second serve than he had in the opening set. Pavic was able to secure the solitary break late on in the second set to level at a set apiece.
Most would still have predicted an Almagro win however Pavic continued to hold his own, securing service games, and making stronger inroads against the Almagro serve than at any point in the first two sets. Yet it was not enough to force a break of serve Both men split four break opportunities but neither could convert, with the match going to a final set decider. It was arguably here that the match turned, as Pavic, with the stronger confidence behind serve surged ahead and won seven-one.
Pavic is better than his current ranking of No.449 suggests, as he once ranked at No.136 less than two years ago, in late 2014. However beating a player like Almagro will surely represent his best career victory.
The other two matches in Chennai also went the distance, as fans definitely got their money’s worth in terms of drama. John Millman opted to play Chennai despite events at both tour and challenger level in his home country of Australia. So far it has paid off, as Millman edged an opponent just one ranking place removed from him in the first week of the season. No.92 Millman and No.91 Evgeny Donskoy played out a match as close as their ranking difference would suggest, Millman finally winning 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
The final match in Chennai saw a tour veteran battle gamely against one of the game’s brightest young talents. Marcel Granollers has seen his ranking slip to No.82 from a career high of No.19 nearly four years ago but played nineteen year-old Borna Coric close, with the Croatian eventually winning 7-6, 2-6, 6-4.
After Monday’s taster of the season, the Chennai begins in earnest on Tuesday with Andrey Rublev against Somdev Devvarman perhaps the most intriguing of the first ties, with the young Russian Rublev looking to make serious improvements in his fledgling ranking status over 2016. Briton Aljaz Bedene is also in action against Vasek Pospisil, and there is an All-American clash between Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek. Karen Khachanov is a young talent but has a tough match against wily lefty Gilles Muller.
Chennai Match-list Tuesday. (bold denotes British player/s)
Andrey Rublev vs Somdev Devvarman
Taro Daniel vs Guillermo Garcia-lopez
Santiago Giraldo vs Lukaz Rosol
Karen Khachanov vs Gilles Muller
Aljaz Bedene vs Vasek Pospisil
Rajeev Ram vs Austin Krajicek
Thomas Fabbiano vs Jozek Kovalik
Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Daniel Gimeno-Traver
Fans will likely have to wait until Wednesday to see the top four seeds in action as Stan Wawrinka, Kevin Anderson, Benoit Paire, and Roberto Bautista-Agut all enjoy first-round byes.
