Mumbai: Indian Tennis player Saketh Myneni is one step closer from participating in US Open singles draw. He defeated American Mitchell Krueger 7-6 (6) 6-4 to advance to the final qualifying round.
Myneni, who has a rank of 143 in ATP rankings, has the chance of playing in the singles main draw of US Open. He will face Serbia’s Pedja Krestin in the third round. This will be Saketh’s first grand slam appearance if he qualifies.
The big-serving Indian had lost in the third Qualifying round at the Australian Open and bowed out in the second round of the French Open early this year.
It was a tight first set in which Myneni recovered from an early break to make it 4-4 and then played really well in the tie-breaker and came out victorious.
It was a tight match and Myneni played really well in the second set and won the match in one hour and thirty minutes.
Myneni will now face Serbian player Krestin, who has a rank of 200 and is 57 places below him. However, Pedja leads to head- to- head 1-0 with a win over the Indian in Turkey in May last year.
Saketh was unnecessarily dragged in to the controversy just before the Olympics when Rohan Bopanna chose him ahead of seasoned Leander Paes. Myneni now has a chance to silence his critics and proving that he belongs to the top level by winning the coveted spot at US Open.