Ramkumar Ramanathan reached his first ever ATP Challenger final at the Tallahassee Challenger late on Friday. The Indian beat Italy’s Andrea Arnaboldi 6-2, 5-7,6-4 in the semi-finals of the $75,000 event.
In the final on Saturday, he will face Blaz Rola, a qualifier who will be gunning for his eight win in as many days. The Slovenian is ranked 271 in the world and beat USA’s Mitchell Krueger in the semi-final 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Ramkumar Ramanathan makes it to his 1st Challenger final! Beats Andrea Arnaboldi 6-2,5-7,6-4 to enter the @TallyChallenger final! Bravo Ram!
— Prashant Paul (@PrashantSport) April 29, 2017
The Tally Challenger is a clay court event in the state of Florida. In the quarter-final, Ramanathan went past fourth seed Guido Andreozzi 4-6, 7-5, 1-1, who retired mid-match due to leg cramps.
The 22-year old Ramanathan is ranked No 241 in the world and is one of India’s brightest singles prospect in tennis. In the Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan earlier this month, he had beaten Temur Ismailov 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. The manner of the win was impressive as the youngster kept his nerve in the tiring four-setter that lasted lasted three hours and three minutes.
Former No. 1 @Leander put on a show under the lights at the @TallyChallenger.
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 29, 2017
Watch hot shots: https://t.co/vBUSiRmwB7 pic.twitter.com/f0iI2HYXUu
The other Indian in the fray at Tally is veteran Leander Paes , who also reached the final with his American partner Scott Lipsky. The duo notched a 6-1, 6-7, (10-3) win over Ecuadorian pair of Roberto Quiroz and Gonzalo Escobar and will play Argentinian pair of Leonardo Mayer and Máximo González for the title.