Pune: Ramkumar Ramanathan’s serve deserted him at the crunch moment as he missed out on a memorable win against world No. 45 Malek Jaziri and crashed out of the Tata Open Maharashtra here.
Staying solid on his service games was the key to Ramkumar’s fight but he served four consecutive double faults across two games to lose 7-6 (6) 6-7 3-6 after battling hard for two hours and 46 minutes late Wednesday night.
India’s singles challenge ended with Ramkumar’s defeat. After winning the first set, Ramkumar squandered three break points in the second set, allowing the fourth seed Tunisian to claw his way back into the match.
Despite serving much better than Jaziri, the 24-year-old from Chennai ended up on the wrong side of Jaziri, who beat then world No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov and world No. 7 Marin Cilic in the 2018 season, struggled with his first serve as Ramkumar’s unrelenting returns made it difficult for him.
Jaziri committed eight double-faults. Beating world No. 8, Dominic Thiem at Antalya Open in 2017 remains the major highlight of Ramkumar’s career. By reaching the final of Hall of Fame Open in Newport last year, the 24-year-old showed that he could perform at the ATP 250 level but lacked consistency.
Jaziri will next take on comeback-man Steve Darcis, who beat talented American youngster Michael Mmoh 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2 in his second-round.
It was battle from the baseline from the beginning as the first two games lasted a good 12 minutes. Jaziri was hitting very deep to keep Ramkumar far behind the baseline, moving him on both flanks.
The Indian though served big and found a way to outlast his opponent in rallies to lead 2-0 after a break in the second game. Jaziri though helped him by serving two double faults. The Tunisian though broke back with fierce returns in the next game, which he ended with a crushing forehand service return winner.
Jaziri averted another immediate break to make it 2-2 as Ramkumar could capitalise on two chances in the fourth game. He though kept serving strong to stay ahead.
Jaziri also fluffed two chances in the ninth game as Ramkumar again came out serving strong in that game. After serving out the 11th game with his 10th ace, Ramkumar earned a set point in the next game in which four deuce points were played, but Jaziri held.
In the tie-breaker, Ram got an early, mini break to zoom to 4-1 but soon it was Jaziri who had a set point in his pocket.