Date:29/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/29/stories/2008072960881900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Somdev bags maiden Challenger title

— FILE Photo

Somdev Dev Varman.

Lexington: Somdev Dev Varman’s giant-killing spree culminated on a perfect note as he clinched his maiden ATP Challenger title after stunning the third-seeded American Robert Kendrick 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the $ 50,000 hard court tournament here.

The title was worth $7,200 and 55 ATP points for Somdev who jumped 221 places on the ATP computer to reach a rank of 345, the third best in the Indian list behind Prakash Amritraj (221) and Rohan Bopanna (329).

Somdev led 4-1 in the semifinals against Xavier Malisse of Belgium when the latter retired.

He had stopped Andrea Stoppini of Italy 7-6(5), 6-1 in the quarterfinals after having knocked out the second-seeded Bobby Reynolds of the US 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4 in the second round.

In the doubles, however, Somdev in partnership with Rylan Rizza of the US lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-10 to Victor Estrella of Dominican Republic and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico in the first round.