Interesting times ahead . . .

The race is hotting up ! We are not exactly talking about Rohan Bopanna’s race to make it to the year-end championship in London.

Of course, he has made the quarterfinals in the Paris Masters in partnership with Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France, and has a tough track ahead.

We, actually, are talking about the race to gain selection for the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania group ‘I’ tie to be played against Chinese Taipei in Indore.

Somdev Devvarman who has got back into the top-100 after enduring a shoulder surgery and rebabilitation programme, should select himself. Thereafter, Yuki Bhambri with his good run in the Challengers in recent times, should count himself in as he is the second best ranked at 277, after Somdev.

Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan has been judiciously accumulating ATP points in Africa to be ranked 305, ahead of Saketh Myneni (313) who upset the top-seeded Tim Smyczek, the 83^rd ranked American in the first round of the ongoing $75,000 Challenger in charlottsville, US.

Sanam Singh (366), Sriram Balaji (452), Vijayant Malik (505), Prajnesh Gunneswaran (590), Karunuday Singh (637). R. Ramkumar (700), Vishnu vardhan (718) follow, spread over different distance from the top.

It will also be interesting to see whether the team can afford to have two doubles specialists in its attempt to ensure one, but crucial, rubber.

The women have also been travelling around the world, in different levels of tournaments, with Ankita Raina looking purposeful after breaking into the top-300.

The juniors are also spread out, and there is a lot to write about Indian tennis, which augurs well for the game in the country.

Rohan Bopanna in quarterfinals of Paris Masters

Rohan Bopanna enhanced his chances of making the season-ending Championship in London, as he in partnership with Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France beat John Isner and Nocholas Monroe of the US 7-6(2), 7-5 in the doubles pre-quarterfinals of the 3,204,745 Euros BNP Paribas Masters ATP-1000 tennis tournament in Paris.

The victory, after a bye in the first round, ensured 180 ATP points for the fifth-seeded Indo-French duo that is placed 14^th in the race with 1940 points.

With the fourth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Marcelo Melo of Brazil in the same quarter and figuring in the top half with the top-seeded Bryan twins, Bob and Mike, the task is cut out for Bopanna and Vasselin.

Meanwhile, Leander Paes in partnership ith Daniel Nestor of Canada lost 4-6, 3-6 to Sandiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Scott Lipisky of the US in the pre-quarterfinals after a bye in the first round. The duo had to settle got 90 ATP points and $10,200.

The defeat will not hurt Paes as he had already ensured an entry in the season-ending championship by winning the US Open doubles title with Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

Saketh Myneni topples the No.1 seed in the $75K Challenger in the US

Saketh Myneni did his confidence a world of good as he beat the 83^rd ranked top seed Tim Smyczek of the US 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in the first round of the $75,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Charlottesville, US.

The 313^th ranked Saketh was scheduled to play Chase Buchanan of the US, who sweated it out against compatriot Austin Krajicek 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).

The country’s No.1 player, the 91^st ranked Somdev Devvarman stumbled to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Samuel Groth of Australia.

In the doubles pre-quarterfinals, the Asian Games champions Somdev and Sanam Singh beat Mitchell Frank and Max Styslinger of the US 6-2, 6-3. They were scheduled to play the second-seeded Austin Krajicek and Tennys Sandgren of the US in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, in the singles qualifying event, Prajnesh Gunneswaran lost 6-7(5), 6-7(0) in the second round to Alexios Halebian of the US after having beaten compatriot Vijayant Malik 6-2, 6-4 in the first.

The second-seeded Sanam Singh, however, lost 4-6, 3-6 to Denis Zivkovic of the US in the first qualifying round.

Yuki Bhambri in quarterfinals of $50K Traralgon Challenger in Australia

The eighth-seeded Yuki Bhambri fought his waypast Michael Venus of New Zealand 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in the pre-quarterfinals of the $50,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Traralgon, Australia.

The 277^th ranked Yuki, who had earlier got past qualifier Brendon Moore of Australia when the latter with the former world No.1 junior leading 6-2, 1-0, will play the fourth-seeded Tatsuma Ito of Japan in the quarterfinals.

In doubles, however, Yuki inpartnership with Mitchell Krueger of the US was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Maerick Banes and Gavin Van Peperzeel of Australia in the pre-quarterfinals.

Divij Sharan and Purav Raja lose first round in a Challenger in Germany

The top-seeded Divij Sharan and Purav Raja were beaen 7-5, 5-7, 10-3 by wild cards Robin Kerr and Maximilan Marterer of Germany in the pre-quarterfinals of the 30,000 Euros Challenger tennis tournament in Eckental, Germany.

In a breakthrough season in which the duo qualified for the main draw of Wimbledon, and won itstheir maiden ATP Tour title, Divij and Purav have taken the defeats in their stride to stay afloat in the big league.

Vijay Sundar Prashanth loses early in Edgbaston

Vijay Sundar Prashanth had to endure an early exit as he was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Nicolas rosenzweig of France in the $10,000 ITF men’s Futures tennis tournament in Edgbaston, Britain.

In partnership with Adam Chadaj of Poland, Vijay lost the doubles pre-quarterfinals 3-6, 2-6 to the third-seeded Erik Crepaldi of Italy and James Marsalek of Britain.

Ankita Raina has a tough time in Chinese Taipei

The country’s No.1 woman tennis player, Ankita Raina had a rough time, losing the first round of both singles and doubles in the $50,000 ITF women’s tournament in Chinese Taipei.

The 20-year-old Ankita who trains with Hemant Bendre in Pune, lost 3-6, 3-6 to Wen-Hsin Hsu of Chinese Taipei in singles. In partnership with Gloia Barbieri of Italy, Ankita lost the doubles pre-quarterfinals 6-7(3), 2-6 to Shao-Yuan Kao and Hua-Chen Lee of Chiense Taipei.

Ranked 301, Ankita has been trying her best to compete in the higher level, after having won three singles titles in the $10,000 events this season, and four overall. She had made the second round of the $25,000 event in Japan last week, after having made the quarterfinals of another $25K event in Fergana, Uzbekistan.

The tough matches abroad in the relatively big events, will prepare Ankita well for the two $25K events scheduled to be held in Pune and Mumbai over the next few weeks before the year runs out.

Victoria Chehal loses second qualifying round in $50K event in Australia

The confidence with which the Indian girls are travelling around the world in search of WTA points is quite impressive. Victoria Chehal ventured into the qualifying of the $50,000 ITF women’s tournament in Bendigo, Austrlaia, and won a round as well.

Victoria lost 3-6, 3-6 to the second-seeded Emma Hayman of New Zealand after having beaten Hene Demiri of Australia 6-4, 6-0 in the first qualifying round.

In the doubles qualifying event, the 16-year-old Victoria in partnership with Michika Ozeki of Japan was beaten 6-2, 6-1 by Naiktha Bains and Ashlinq Sumner of Australia.

Rashmi Teltumbde in the $50K ITF women’s event in the US

Rashmi Teltumbde ws beaten 6-3, 6-1 by the eighth-seeded Blair Shankle of the US in the second qualifying round of the $50,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in New Braunfels, Texas.

Rashmi had beaten Valentina Starkova of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the qualifying event.

Shweta Rana, Arantxa Andrady in second round in Egypt

National runner-up Shweta Rana blanked compatriot and qualifier Tanisha Rohira 6-0, 6-0 in the first round of the $10,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Arantxa Andrady also made it to the second round as her opponent wild card entrant Anke Poncelet of Belgium retired with the Indian girl leading 5-2 in the first set.

Seeded second with Giulia Bruzzone of Italy, Shweta Rana had a bye in the first round of doubles. The duo was set to play the quarterfinals against Vishesh Vishnu and Janneke Wikkerink of the Netherlands who had a walkover in the first round.

The results

Singles (first round): Caroline Daxhelet (Bel) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi 6-4, 6-2; Arantxxa Andrady bt Anke Poncelet (Bel) 5-2 (retired); Tanya Samodelok (Rus) bt Manya Nagpal 7-6(8), 6-2; Natalija Kostic (Srb) bt Vishesh Vishnu 6-1, 6-1; Shweta Rana bt Tanisha Rohira 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Ksenia Dmitrieva (Rus) and Paulina Lewandowska (Pol) bt Manya Nagpal and Tanisha Rohira 6-2, 2-6, 11-9; Alice Bacquie (Fra) and Tessa Breve (Ned) bt Yuliya Hnateyko (Ukr) and Ashmitha Easwaramurthi 6-7(6), 6-4, 10-3; Caroline Daxhelet (Bel) and Lenia Lutzeier (Ger) bt Nonna Kurginyan (Rus) and Arantxxa Andrady 6-4, 6-3; Janneke Wikkerink (Ned) and Vishesh Vishnu w.o. Louise Brunskog (Swe) and Linda Dubska (Cze).

Sowjanya Bavisetti retires in the first round in Spain

Injuries continued to trouble Sowjanya Bavisetti as she retired at 0-6, 0-4 against Andrea Lazaro Garcia of Spain in the first round of the $10,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Benicarlo, Spain.

However, Sowjanya, seeded second in doubles with Ai Wen zhu of China made the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Natalia Garcia Molina and Ana Royo Marco of Spain, after a bye in the first round.

Pranjala Yadlapalli in second round in ITF grade-2 tournament in Korea

The eighth-seeded Pranjala Yadlapalli fought her way past Lizette Cabrera of Australia 6-3, 7-6(10) in the girls first round of the ITF grade-2 junior tennis tournament in Chuncheon City, Korea.

Dhruthi Venugopal, coached by Sandeep Kirtane, ran into the third-seeded Sara Tomic of Australia in the first round and lost in straight sets.

The results

Girls (first round): Sara Tomic (Aus) bt Dhruthi Venugopal 6-4, 6-2; Pranjala Yadlapalli bt Lizette Cabrera (Aus) 6-3, 7-6(10).

Qualifying event (first round): So Hyon Kim (Kor) bt Vasanti Shinde 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Kim Dabin (Kor) and Qiu Yu Ye (Chn) bt Maddison Inglis (Aus) and Vasanti Shinde 6-3, 6-2.

Tejas Kapoor makes it as lucky loser in Thailand

Tejas Kapoor and Kaaviya Balasubramanian made it as lucky losers in the main draws of boys and girls sections respectively, but failed to cross the first round in the ITF grade-4 junior tennis tournament in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

The results

Boys: Singles (first round): Suthinan Tanthaseraneewat (Tha) bt Tejas Kapoor 6-2, 6-1.

Qualifying event (third and final round): Adrian Andrezejczuk (Pol) bt Tejas Kapoor 6-1, 6-4; Second round: Tejas Kapoor bt Sutthipat Yunkratog (Tha) 4-6, 6-0, 3-1 (retired); Joachim Samson (Phi) bt Ramakrishnan Rengaraj 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles (first round): Sarunwat Prasertpaak and Thanaphak Trisattayakul (Tha) bt Tobias Lentz (Den) and Tejas Kapoor 6-0, 6-1.

Girls

Singles (first round): Pirada Suwanarux (Tha) bt Kaaviya Balasubramanian 6-4, 6-1.

Qualifying event (third and final round): Alvina Lai (Hkg) bt Niditra Rajmohan 6-1, 6-2; Srikanya Burananayok (Tha) bt Kaaviya Balasubramanian 7-5, 6-1.

Doubles (first round): Pichayatida Jandaeng and Priyachanok Sukkanha (tha) bt Wi Joanne Koh (Sin) and Niditra Rajmohan 6-2, 6-0.

Kushaan Nath qualifies and loses second round in Kuwait

Qualifier Kushaan Nath lost 4-6, 1-6 to Mattia Bedolo of Italy in the boys second round of the ITF grade-4 junior tennis tournament in Kuwait.

However, he made the doubles semifinals with Mohab Hamed of Egypt.

The results

Boys (second round): Mattia Bedolo (Ita) bt Kushaan Nath 6-4, 6-1; First round: Kushaan Nathbt Kaan Tuna (Tur) 6-0, 6-0.

Qualifying event (third and final round): Kushaan Nath bt Tamim Hallak (Lib) 6-0, 6-1; Second round: Kushaan Nath bt Rafaan Kabir (Phi) 6-0, 6-0; Mattia Bedolo (ita) bt Taran Mundkur 6-1, 6-0; First round: Taran Mundkur bt Abdulaziz Albayouk (KSA) 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles (quarterfinals): Mohab Hamed (Egy) and Kushaan Nath bt Armon Rabiee (GBR) and Kaan Tuna (Tur) 6-4, 6-1; Pre-quarterfinals: Mohab Hamed and Kushaan Nath bt Hadi Jamal and Hussain Jamal (Kuw) 6-1, 6-2; Fahad Al Janahi (UAE) and Dawood Sayed Hashim bt Abdella Nedim Mohammed (Eth) and Taran Mundkur 6-2, 6-0.

Girls (second round): Mina Guner Karamercan (Tur) bt Sanjana Sudhir 6-1, 6-3; First round: Anita Ance Detlava (Lat) bt Simran Kaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Anita Ance Detlava (Lat) and Katarina Weymouth (GBR) bt Mina Guner Karamercan (Tur) and Sanjana Sudhir 2-6, 6-4, 10-7; Pre-quarterfinals: Berfu Cengiz and Defne Olcay (Tur) bt Lara Schmid (Ger) and Simran Kaur 6-0, 6-1.