Indian challenge comes to an end at ATP Challenger

Chikmagalur, Apr 21: Indian challenge in the USD 25,000 ATP Challenger Championship ended with upcoming tennis star Karan Rastogi suffering defeat at the hands of Toshihide Matsui of Japan here today.

In a marathon match that lasted for more than three hours, the teenaged Indian fought till the end in vain.

Matsui defeated Rastogi 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) to enter the semi-finals.

After conceding the first set (5-7), Rastogi fought back and stretched the second to a tie-breaker and won it (7-4). However, he went down in the third and final set, though it was also stretched to a tie-breaker.

In the first set, Rastogi succeeded in taking an early lead through superb back hand strokes, but Matsui recovered and succeeded in not only equalising the score at 5-5, but also won two more games to take the first set (7-5).

A determined Rastogi rose to the occasion and with his superb serve and return made Matsui come to the net and in the volley of shots forced him to commit mistakes. At one stage both were locked at 5-5. Later both succeeded in taking one point lead, forcing the set to tie-breaker.

At this stage Rastogi took early lead of five points (5-1) when Matsui through two Aces and superb back hand strokes succeeded in increasing his point to four (6-4). However, Rastogi was quick enough to finish the game by taking a three point lead (7-4).

In the third and final set Rastogi committed many mistakes, including playing some eratic shots. He was very quick to go to the net and this cost him dearly on several occasions as his opponent took full advantage the situation.

Rastogi had served eight Aces but committed as many as 12 double faults in the match, while Matsui on the other hand served six Aces and committed seven double faults.

Third seed Yan-Hsun Lu of Taipei entered the last four stage as Jan Masik of Czech Republic, who had defeated Indian top seed Prakash Amritraj in the second round, retired on health grounds when the score was reading 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, while Second seed Danai Udomchoke of Thailand entered the semi-finals defeating American Philip King 6-1, 6-2.

In the Doubles, the Taiwan twins entered THE finals defeating Luke Bourgeois of Austria and Marco Chudinelli of Switzerland 6-4, 6-1, 10-6.

Results: Singles (Quarter-finals) Toshihide Matsui (Jpn) bt Karan Rastogi (Ind) 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4); S3 Yen-Haun Lu (Tpe) bt Jan Masik (Cze) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 (Masik retired on health ground); S2 Danai Udomchoke (Tha) bt Phillip King (USA) 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles: (Semi-finals) Sanchai Ratwatana/Sanchat Ratwatana (both Tha) bt Luke Bourgeois (Aus)/Marco Chudinelli (Sui) 6-4, 1-6, 10-6.

UNI