The India No: Indian tennis stars had a mixed day at the 10th Bengaluru Open as Dhakshineswar Suresh and Manas Dhamne advanced to the Quarter-Finals with hard-fought three-set victories, while former champion Sumit Nagal exited after a gruelling battle against second seed Harold Mayot.
Mayot saved seven match points before coming a gruelling three-set battle to defeat Sumit Nagal 7-6(2), 6-1, 7-6(11) in a match defined by momentum swings and physical endurance. Mayot broke early in the opening set, but Nagal responded with trademark resolve, clawing back the break two games later to force a tie-break. It was there that Mayot raised his level, using sustained pressure to take the opener. The India No. 1 shifted tactics in the second set, frequently approaching the net to disrupt rhythm, breaking Mayot early and racing through the set with authority.
The third set turned into a war of attrition, with Nagal producing a series of spectacular returns that forced Mayot to stretch and scramble. Both players pushed their limits to stay even, leading to another tie-break where Nagal’s hard hitting forehand earned him an early edge. However, fatigue caught up late, and Mayot’s solid defence and composure under pressure ultimately sealed the contest in three hours and nine minutes.
