Injured Ram bows to Neilsen

Injured Ram bows to Neilsen
Sandeep Dwivedi

AHMEDABAD, Feb 23: Walking wounded are deceptively dangerous. Their sighting usually makes an opponent invigorate. But this feeling can soon vanish if the desperation of the dying is discounted. With persistent back trouble, cramps and constant on-court calls by physio meant Andy Ram of Italy had all the traits of the said species. His rival -- Mark Neilsen of New Zealand -- too seemed to be biting the bait.

But at 7-6 (4), 5-7, 5-4 (15-30), a severe thigh cramp to Ram stopped the wounded from walking. This meant though Neilsen's victory had the hollow tag to it but was enough to take him to the quarter-final of the Bharat Petroleum Challenger Cup tennis tournament at the AGETA courts on Wednesday.

While the Calcutta Challenger finalist's run came to a sad end, the champion in the previous ATP Tour event on the Indian circuit Tuomas Ketola just about managed to stay afloat. The Finland player, with a perennial stock of patience, stuck to his task to record a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Luke Milligan of Great Britain.

Lucky loser Dahan Lior of Israel extended his stay in the main draw after his 6-2, 6-2 win over Justin Bower of South Africa. But qualifier Leonardo Azzaro of Italy was shown the exit by Boris Borgula of Slovakia. Borgula, who has won a Futures tournament at the same courts, recorded a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

FAZALUDDIN WINS IN DOUBLES: Syed Fazaluddin, with Cedric Kauffmann, recorded a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over the Israeli pair of Noam Behr and Jonathan Erlich.

Results

Singles (pre-quarterfinal): Fillippo Volanddri (Italy) bt Marcello Craca (Germany) 6-2, 6-1; Mark Neilsen bt Andy Ram (Israel) 7-6 (4); 5-7; 5-4 (conceded); Lior Dahan (Israel) bt Justin Bower (South Africa) 6-2, 6-2; Vadium Kutsenko (Uzbekistan) bt Noam Behr (Israel) 6-1, 6-3; Boris Borgula (Slovakia) bt Leonardo Azzaro (Italy) 6-3, 6-3; Jeff Coetzee (South Africa) bt Joao Cunha Silva (Portugal) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2; Tuomas Ketola (Finland) bt Luke Milligan (Great Britain) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

Second round: Lior Dahan (Israel) bt Satoshi Iwabuchi (Japan) 7-5, 6-3; Luke Milligan (Great Britain) bt Jason Cook (USA) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Oren Motevassel (Israel) bt Takahiro Terachi (Japan) 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4); Justin Bower (South Africa) Italy) bt Girgio Galimberti (Italy) 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4.

Doubles: Syed Fazaluddin/Kaufmann bt N Behr/J Erlich 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; J Coetzee/T Ketola bt Vijay Kannan/Nitin Kirtane 6-1, 6-3; Oleg Ogorodov/Tomashevich bt M Boye/M Neilsen 6-4, 6-3.