India’s top player Sumit Nagal impressed the crowd with a swift 6-1, 6-2 victory over Japan’s Rio Noguchi at the Maha Open ATP Challenger in Pune. Nagal dominated the match, showcasing strong play from the baseline and securing a straight-set win in just over an hour.
Local talent Manas Dhamne, a rising star, also stood out by defeating Stefanos Sakellaridis of Greece 6-4, 7-6(4). Despite being a wildcard entry, Dhamne displayed remarkable composure and skill, advancing in the tournament with a well-fought victory.
In other matches, Lithuania’s Edas Butvilas outclassed Aditya Balsekar of India with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 win. Meanwhile, Russian player Ilia Simakin overcame Malaysia’s Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong in a tough battle lasting over two hours.
The tournament saw impressive performances from players like Federico Cina, Felix Gill, and Frederico Ferreira Silva, who all secured victories to progress to the next round. Notable matchups await in the upcoming rounds, including Dhamne facing former world no. 40 Illya Ivashka.
