Maharashtra Open Highlights: Indians campaign at the Maharashtra Open has come to an end in the singles at Maharashtra Open 2023. Ramkumar Ramanathan has bowed out in the first round after losing against Pedro Martinez 6-3, 5-7, 3-6. Meanwhile, Sasikumar Mukund lost in straight sets against Italian Flavio Cobolli in the tournament opener. Follow Maharashtra Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Maharashtra Open Highlights: Flavio Cobolli defeats Sasikumar Mukund, Ramkumar Ramanathan loses in first round on Day 2 of Maharashtra Open 2023 – Watch Highlights
Day 2 Matches
Ramkumar Ramanathan LOST TO Pedro Martinez – 6-3, 5-7, 3-6
Radu Albot LOST TO Tim van Rijthoven – 4-6, 4-6
Elias Ymer LOST TO Maximilian Marterer – 2-6, 6-3, 3-6
Aslan Karatsev vs Pablo Andujar –
Sasikumar Mukund LOST TO Flavio Cobolli – 6-4, 7-5
Sasikumar Mukund vs Flavio Cobolli
Sasikumar Mukund started off the contest on a positive note. As soon as the match began, he held on to his first serve and went on to break Cobolli in the next game to go up 2-0. However, despite a 3-0 lead, he failed to capitalise. He allowed Cobolli to make a valiant comeback,
The 20-year old Italian, came back by winning the next four games, breaking the Indian twice. He took a 4-3 lead. The Italian went on to win the first set 6-4.
In the second set too Mukund started off by breaking Cobolli and took a 2-0 lead. Yet again Cobolli managed to make a comeback and soon levelled the scores 2-2. From then on both the players won their respective service games as the scores moved to 5-5. When it looked like the players would take the set into the tie-breaker, Cobolli broke the Indian and sealed the set 7-5. With the loss, no other Indian remains in this tournament in Singles.
Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Pedro Martinez
Ramkumar Ramanathan squandered break points in the deciding third set that led to his defeat against Pedro Martinez in the first round of the Maharashtra Open 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
In the two hour and 28-minute contest, Ramkumar got a grip initially but the Spanish player found a way to trouble the home favourite. Egged on by the crowd, Ramkumar fought his heart out when Martinez was serving for the match but hit a forehand long at 30-all. Ramkumar saved a match point when his rival netted a forehand. Martinez eventually closed the game with a deft volley winner.
On a hot and sultry afternoon, the first game of the match lasted almost 10 minutes with Ramkumar dropping serve after playing five deuce points. Martinez returned low straight on to Ramkumar’s shoes, and he could not pick up the half volley, burying it on the net.
Martinez though could not build on the advantage. The Indian came up with splendid cross court backhand winners in the fourth game to get his first break of the match. A comfortable hold put him firmly in the driver’s seat, opening up a 4-1 lead. An intense game followed in which Martinez saved three breakpoints, smartly using the drop shots but Ramkumar fired a screaming backhand winner past his rival to go up 5-1.
A crushing cross court winner gave Martinez his first set point and Ramkumar double-faulted to give the Spaniard a chance to keep the match alive. Once Ramkumar lost break chances in the decider, Martinez was all over.
Where to watch Maharashtra Open 2023 LIVE streaming?
All the matches can be watched LIVE on Sports 18 and Jio Cinema App.
