Jeevan, Balaji progress to quarters in Bhopal ITF
Jeevan Neduncheziyan and second seed N Sriram Balaji advanced to the singles quarter-finals with contrasting wins.
Bhopal: There was no surprise today in the ITF Futures tournament as top seed Jeevan Neduncheziyan and second seed N Sriram Balaji advanced to the singles quarter-finals with contrasting wins, here.
Jeevan beat Sjaikh Abdullah 6-3 6-2 while Balaji, the week's runner-up, fought his way to a 7-5 6-3 win over Jannis Liniger from Switzerland.
Balaji will now take on Vishnu Vardhan, who Jui-Chen Hung 6-2 6-3 in his second round.
Balaji and Vishnu had clashed in the semifinals in New Delhi last week.
After exchanging a couple of breaks the first was again on serve but Balaji again broke Liniger in the 12th game to nose ahead.
In the second he cashed in on the first opportunity to break his rival at 4-3 and kept that lead to clinch the issue.
Jeevan will take on talented youngster and eighth seed Ramkumar Ramnathan, who battled past Markos Kaloveslonis 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 in his second round.
Sixth seed Karunuday Singh defeated Jatin Dahiya 6-4 6-4 to set up quarterfinal against N Vijay Sundar Prashanth, who ousted Akash Wagh 6-7 92) 6-1 6-3.