The Indian challenge in the men’s singles section of the SM Krishna Memorial Open Tennis Championship ended as Mukund Sasikumar lost to Alastair Gray of Great Britain in a quarterfinal match lasting two hours and 40 minutes. Despite a valiant effort, Sasikumar, ranked 536 in the world, succumbed to Gray, ranked 287, in a tight 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(3) battle.
In another quarterfinal, Ilya Ivashka defeated Alex Hernandez 6-1, 6-2, advancing to the semifinals. Hamish Stewart also secured a semifinal spot by beating Ognjen Milic 6-2, 6-1 in just 57 minutes. Petr Bar Biryukov completed the semifinal lineup by overcoming Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
Mukund Sasikumar showcased resilience and aggressive play, hitting 14 aces and showing composure under pressure. Despite falling short, he fought back repeatedly and nearly secured a spot in the semifinals. Gray dominated early on, taking the first set 6-2, but Sasikumar fought back in the second set, winning 7-5 to force a decider.
The final set was intense, with Gray eventually prevailing in a tiebreak to win the match. Sasikumar’s performance was commendable, but Gray’s experience and consistency proved decisive in the end. The Indian player’s spirited display won praise, although he narrowly missed out on a memorable semifinal appearance.
