Prajwal goes down fighting to Czech Republic’s Gengel

India's S.D. Prajwal Dev loses to Czech Republic's Marek Gengel in a thrilling match at dafaNEWS Bengaluru Open.

India’s S.D. Prajwal Dev went down fighting to Czech Republic’s Marek Gengel 7-6(2), 3-6, 3-6 in an opening round singles match at the dafaNEWS Bengaluru Open here at the KLSTA courts on Monday.

The 28-year-old wildcard won the first set in a tiebreak after fending off two set-points at 5-6, 15-40, only to be steamrolled in the second, losing it 3-6.

When the local lad fell 0-2 behind in the decider, it seemed all over, but he broke Gengel’s serve twice to lead 3-2. However, Prajwal’s 29-year-old opponent reeled off four straight games – including the eighth, a long-drawn multiple-deuce affair – to emerge victorious.

Prajwal showed admirable spirit, and tried his utmost to open up the court and hit penetrating winners. But a disproportionate number of unforced errors proved his bane even as Gengel’s overall superiority – he is No. 251 to Prajwal’s 785 – shone through.

Earlier in the morning, India’s Karan Singh beat compatriot Aryan Shah to enter the main draw. Mukund Sasikumar, however, bit the dust in the final round of the qualifying, falling to Czech Republic’s Hynek Barton in three sets.

The results (first round, Indians unless specified): Marek Gengel (Cze) bt S.D. Prajwal Dev 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-3; Nicolas Mejia (Col) bt Elmer Moller (Den) 6-3, 6-4; Blake Ellis (Aus) bt Michael Geerts (Bel) 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(6); Rio Noguchi (Jpn) bt Justin Engel (Ger) 7-5, 6-2.

Qualifying (final round): Hynek Barton (Cze) bt Mukund Sasikumar 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; Karan Singh bt Aryan Shah 6-4, 7-6(6).