By IANS,
New Delhi : India’s Somdev Devvarman continued his giant-killing spree to upset second seeded American Bobby Reynolds and move into the final of the US$75,000 ATP Challenger in Nashville, USA.
The unseeded Somdev scored a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over 81-ranked Reynolds to reach his second Challenger final of the season.
Somdev, ranked 241, will now clash with local favourite and fourth seed Robert Kendrick for a winner’s purse of $10,800 and 60 ATP points. Kendrick got the better of fellow American Michael Russell 4-6, 6-0 6-3.
The Davis Cupper had been in stunning form in the tournament and had knocked off American Jesse Levine in the semifinal.
Though Somdev had been going through a rough patch of late and made early exits in Challenger events in Calabasas, Sacramento and Bucharest, losing in the first round in the last two tournaments.
Kendrick might be way above Somdev in the ATP rankings at 91, but the Indian has all the reason to fancy his chances against him. Somdev boasts of a 2-0 record against Kendrick. Interestingly, Somdev clinched his first ATP Challenger title in Lexington in July beating Kendric in the final. The other win came at the Washinton ATP next month where Somdev reached the quarterfinal as a qualifier.
There were good news for India in the doubles as well with Harsh Mankad and Ashutosh Singh reaching the final in the doubles event, going past wild card Scott Oudsema of and Tim Smyczek of USA 6-2, 2-6, 10-6.
The Indian duo will face Australian Carsten Ball and Travis Rettenmair of USA who beat fourth seed Ilia Bozoljac of Serbia and Kendric 6-3, 6-2.