New Delhi, September 01: Indian wildcard Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan outlasted seventh-seed Dutchman Peter Lucassen 7-5, 7-6(2) to enter the second round of the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament at the DLTA complex here Tuesday.
Nedunchezhiyan, a University of Washington student, had given a tough fight to Lucassen in the second round of the ITF tournament’s first week but had to retire midway due to cramps. The Indian had also collapsed due to cramps in his first round match last week and had to be lifted out of court.
The 20-year-old next plays Malaysian qualifier Yew-Ming Si, who beat American Shane La Porte 7-5, 6-1 in the first round.
Indian qualifier Karunuday Sigh overcame mid-match jitters to beat lucky loser Fariz Mohammed, who came in place of top-seed Vishnu Vardhan.
Vardhan, a finalist here in the first two weeks, pulled out due to fever.
The 18-year-old Karunuday, next plays South Korean Seong-Yoon Chung, who advanced to the second round after Briton Kyle Brassington retired due to heat stroke after making it a set apiece at 3-6, 6-4.
Second seed and first week winner Young-Jun Kim of South Korea beat compatriot Dong Kyu Lee 6-1, 6-3 to set up a second round meeting with Indian qualifier Mithun Murli, who registered a fighting win over compatriot P.C. Vignesh 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2.
However, third-seeded Chris Eaton of Briton was upset by compatriot Max Jones 6-3, 7-5.
In the other first round singles matches, fifth-seeded Indian Rohan Gajjar beat compatriot Abhijeet Tiwari 6-1, 6-4 while fourth-seeded Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan prevailed over South Korean Young-Jae Kim 7-5, 6-0.
—IANS