Chennai Open ATP Challenger Tour Feb 04, 2025 – PRESS RELEASE
Third seed Duje Ajdukovic and the trio of Indian players in the singles main draw were knocked out in the opening round of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger on Tuesday while the tournament’s top seeds Billy Harris and Lloyd Harris started their campaigns on a winning note.
Ajdukovic, ranked No. 158 in the world, was defeated in three sets 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 by Sweden’s Elias Ymer, ranked No. 332 in the world. It was not a good day for Indian singles players at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Chennai either with all the three local players in the main draw also exiting in the first round.
21-year-old Karan Singh was defeated 6-3, 6-3 by France’s Kyrian Jacquet while Ramkumar Ramanathan went down to Great Britain’s Jay Clarke 6-3, 7-5. Mukund Sasikumar was able to force a deciding set before eventually falling to Alexey Zakharov 6-3, 6-7, 6-1. In the doubles draw, Siddhant Banthia and Parikshit Somani won the all-Indian clash over Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta and Vishnu Vardhan 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 to book their spot in the quarter-finals.
Top seed Billy Harris, of Great Britain, and second seed Lloyd Harris, of South Africa, were among the seeded players advancing into the second round. Harris defeated Ukrainian qualifier Eric Vanshelboim 7-5, 6-2 while second seed Lloyd Harris, a former US Open quarter-finalist, overcame another Ukrainian qualifier Yurii Dzhavakian 6-3, 5-7, 6-0.
The action continues on Wednesday with the remaining first round singles and doubles matches on the schedule as well as the start of the second round singles matches. The doubles draw includes Indians Vijay Sundar Prashanth/ Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan as the second seeds and Saketh Myneni/ Vishnu Vardhan as the third seeds.
The Chennai Open ATP Challenger is being hosted with the support of the Government of Tamil Nadu and The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. The sponsors include Coromandel International (Platinum), Indian Overseas Bank (Gold Plus), Kauvery Hospitals (Medical Partner) Lancor Group (Silver). The Park Hotels is the Hospitality Partner, ACT Fibernet is the Fibernet Partner, and is the PR partner Red Consulting.
The Chennai Open is the first in a series of ATP Challenger events to be held in India. The tournaments to follow are scheduled to be held at Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru. Entry for spectators is free and to make the event more fan-friendly, organizers have scheduled some matches under flood lights as well.
The Doubles finals will be played on Saturday February 8, 2025 while the singles final has been scheduled for Sunday February 9, 2025. The tournament is looking forward to the participation of the tennis fans from all over Chennai.
Chennai Open ATP Challenger Results Tuesday February 4, 2025;
Singles Main Draw First Round:
[1] Billy Harris (GBR) def. [Q] Eric Vanshelboim (UKR) 7-5, 6-2
[2] Lloyd Harris (RSA) def. [Q] Yurii Dzhavakian (UKR) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0
Elias Ymer (SWE) def. [3] Duje Ajdukovic (CRO) 6-2, 6-7, 6-2
[7] Timofey Skatov (KAZ) def. [Q] Hynek Barton (CZE) 6-4, 6-4
Kyrian Jacquet (FRA) def. [WC] Karan Singh (IND) 6-3, 6-3
Jay Clarke (GBR) def. [WC] Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) 6-3, 7-5
Aslan Karatsev def. Corentin Denolly (FRA) 7-6 (4), 6-4
Alexey Zakharov def. [WC] Mukund Sasikumar (IND) 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
Rio Noguchi (JPN) def. [Q] Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) 7-5, 3-1 (retd.)
Michael Geerts (BEL) def. [Q] Maxim Zhukov 7-2, 7-6 (5)
Dalibor Svrcina (CZE) def. [LL] Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg (FRA) 5-7, 7-6, 6-0
Doubles Main Draw First Round:
Siddhant Banthia (IND) / Parikshit Somani (IND) def. [WC] Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta (IND) / Vishnu Vardhan (IND) 6-3, 3-6, 10-7