Delhi challenger

Maha Open ATP Challenger: India’s top-ranked star Sumit Nagal delivered a commanding performance while local teenager and the country's rising youngster Manas Dhamne showcased nerves of steel to spearhead the Indian charge in the Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 Men's Tennis Championship at the Shiv Chhatrapati Kreeda Sankul in Pune on Tuesday.

Nagal thrilled a lively home crowd with a clinical 6-1, 6-2 victory over seventh seed Rio Noguchi of Japan, securing victory in an hour and 9 minutes, dictating play from the baseline and sealing the contest in straight sets. The Indian No.1 looked sharp in all departments, breaking serve consistently to advance comfortably into the second round.

Local boy Dhamne, who secured a place in the main draw through a Wildcard, continued his impressive progress on the Challenger circuit, battling past the winner of last week's Delhi Challenger, Stefanos Sakellaridis of Greece, 6-4, 7-6(4). The Pune teen, ranked 489, displayed maturity beyond his years, holding his nerve in a tight second-set tiebreak to secure a memorable win over the 220-ranked Greek.