Home fans were to be disappointed by the highest-ranked local player in action on Tuesday, as Somdev Devvarman was unable to beat young Russian Andrey Rublev.
Devvarman gave the young talent a good match, taking the second set, but eventually succumbed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Another home hopeful did manage to spring a surprise win. Ramkumar Ramanathan destroyed a clearly out of sorts Daniel Gimeno-Traver in straight sets 6-2, 6-0. It is just Ramanathan’s second tour-level win after beating Devvarman at this event two years ago.
In other matches, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez was forced to fight hard for the win against Taro Daniel. The young Japanese hopeful played excellent tennis for a set and a half, but Garcia-Lopez then showed his class, winning eight of the last ten games to progress to the second round with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory
In a match with two big serves, Luca Vanni was the victor against Jan-Lennard Struff. The Italian served down eleven aces and won eighty-one percent of his first serve points to win 6-4, 7-6.
Austin Krajicek recovered in a very tight battle between two Americans flirting with Top 100 rankings. His compatriot Rajeev Ram, who’s ranking total largely benefits from his shock win of the Newport ATP title for a second time last year, won the first set on a tiebreak. Krajicek proved dominant on serve though, and a single service break in each set was enough to reverse his fortunes and enter the second round with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 win. Krajicek now faces Borna Coric.
Lukas Rosol efficiently dispatched Santiago Giraldo by a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline.
Aljaz Bedene, Thomas Fabbiano, Josef Kovalik and Vasek Posipisil all feature in the late matches in Chennai.
