Chennai Open ATP Challenger: Yuki Bhambri labours through to semi-final; Jordan Thompson sails into last four

Chennai: India’s Yuki Bhambri, the second-seed, on Thursday booked a spot in the semi-final of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger tennis tournament, with a come-from-behind win over Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama. The 25-year-old Delhi player, allowed his rival to bounce back when in sight of the first set, before regrouping to take the next two on a hot afternoon to post a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win. Bhambri failed to convert the chances he had and allowed the sixth-seeded Uchiyama to take the first set. [caption id=“attachment_4303677” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Yuki Bhambri. AP[/caption] He raised his game in the second with some fluent shots and broke twice to run away to a 5-1 lead before wrapping up set in 28 minutes. The Indian No 1 came up with some impressive winners in the decider as the Japanese seemed to wilt and closed out the match with a forehand volley winner. The No 111 ranked Bhambri will next meet Korea’s Duckhee Lee, the third-seed, in the semi-final. Lee posted a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over unseeded Frenchman Antoine Escoffier, who had beaten India’s Sumit Nagal in the opening round. Top-seed Jordan Thompson had things easy as he sailed into the last four when his rival Danilo Petrovic of Serbia retired while trailing 4-6, 0-3. The Australian will meet Pedro Martinez of Spain, who knocked out third-seeded Mohammed Safwat of Egypt 7-5, 6-2, for a place in the final. In the doubles, Cem Ilkel of Turkey and Petrovic shocked the top-seeded Ratiwatana duo in a thrilling three-set encounter. They will meet India’s N Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan in the final. Results (Indians unless otherwise stated): Singles quarterfinal: Jordan Thompson (Aus-X1) bt Danilo Petrovic (Serbia) 6-4, 3-0 (retd); Yuki Bhambri bt Yasutaka Uchiyama (Japan) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Duckhee Lee (Korea) bt Antoine Escoffier (France) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Pedro Martinez (Spain) bt Mohamed Safwat (Egypt-X3) 7-5, 6-2. Doubles semifinal: Cem Ilkel (Turkey)/Danilo Petrovic bt Sonchat Ratiwatana/Sanchai Ratiwatana (Thailand) 7-6 (5), 2-6, 10-8; N Sriram Balaji/Vishnu Vardhan bt Luca Margaroli (SUI)/Saketh Myneni 6-3, 7-5.