Australian Open 2020: Prajnesh Gunneswaran comes from set down to advance to final round of qualifying; Sumit Nagal crashes out

Melbourne: India’s top-ranked singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran is one win away from sealing a place in the Australian Open main draw after progressing to the final round of the qualifiers but it was curtains for compatriot Sumit Nagal on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_6703001” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran. AFP[/caption] Prajnesh, ranked 122 in the world, had to battle it out for one hour and 22 minutes to get past Yannick Hanfmann of Germany 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. Prajnesh, seeded 17th in the qualifiers, will take on either Federico Coria of Argentina or Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in the final round. The Indian defeated local wild card Harry Bourchier 6-2, 6-4 in the opening round. Earlier in the day, Nagal suffered a straight-set loss in the first round to crash out of the men’s singles qualifiers. Nagal, seeded 21st in the qualifiers, was shown the door by Mohamed Safwat of Egypt 7-6(2), 6-2 after a one hour and 28 minute contest. Ramkumar Ramanathan on Tuesday made an early exit along with lone Indian contender in the women’s singles qualifier, Ankita Raina.