CHENNAI: The India contingent had a good day with Sumit Nagal and Sasikumar Mukund notching up opening round victories in the ATP Chennai Open Challenger here at the SDAT Tennis Stadium on Tuesday. Second-seed Nagal did not have to sweat much as he cruised into the pre-quarterfinals by getting the better of compatriot Prajwal Dev 6-1, 6-2.
Sumit, ranked 350 plus places higher than Dev, started with an easy service game and backed it up breaking Prajwal in the second. Nagal played to his strengths, maneuvering the angles by connecting cross-court forehand shots. In the second game, a forehand down the line helped Nagal gain momentum.