PUNE: Top seed and former US Open champion Marin Cilic pulled out ahead of his quarterfinal citing an injury, leaving Aslan Karatsev as the favourite to win the Tata Open Maharashtra on Thursday.
“Hey guys, very sorry that I couldn’t come out again today to compete. Today during the warm up I injured my knee and unfortunately get better until I was about to go out on court,” Cilic said in a statement.
Cilic’s withdrawal meant the Netherland’s 26-year-old Tallon Griekspoor, world ranked 95 will lock horns with Russian Karatsev for a place in the final of the ATP 250 Series event.
Karatsev needed just an hour and 14 minutes to quell the challenge of Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-1, 6-2.
In the bottom half of the draw, Dutch second seed Botic van de Zandschulp eased past German qualifier Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-2.
Eighth seeded Karatsev has not dropped a set so far this week, although he was pushed to two tiebreakers by another Dutch, the upcoming Tim van Rijthoven in the round of 16.
Unlike in 2022, when he went out in the second round in a closed door event at the Balewadi stadium, Karatsev has looked amazingly focussed this week.
He arrived in Pune well before qualifying last week, in order to acclimatise himself to the hot weather, having done his pre-season in Minsk, Belarus.
“I like to play (in) 24 and a half degrees and when it's not so much light and when the sun comes from the right side, it’s perfect,” the Russian said with sarcasm when asked about having to adjust to differing conditions on the centre court, having played under the lights on Wednesday and in the afternoon on Thursday.
Martinez dropped serve in the fourth game of the first set with back to back double-faults before Karatsev extended the lead with another break in the sixth game.
Visibly fatigued, the Spaniard watched helplessly as Karatsev, who sent down 13 aces during the match, blasted his way to victory with another twin breaks in the second.
CHEER FOR INDIAN FANS
Bereft of singles presence, the home fans had reasons to get vociferous with Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Sriram Balaji edging out American second seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) to enter the last-four.
“I think all the players served really well. There was one service game that was very close, we kept our nerve under pressure at 4-5 in the second set … handled the situation with composure as a team. Regardless of the result, I was very proud of the team,” Nedunchezhiyan said.
The duo, who came together in April last year, had a productive season in 2022 when they won two Challenger titles.
It has been a sort of second wind in their careers for both Balaji and Jeevan, who had tasted success with other partners and had the high of playing in Grand Slams in 2018.
“Covid really changed everyone’s life, one way or the other, it gave a lot of perspective on what is important in life. There was at least one year when I didn’t play much,” Jeevan said.
“But I am enjoying being back on tour and I feel like we are working towards something.”
Balaji said: “With the protected ranking and stuff, it was difficult to move up the ladder. But it is all over now, we are back in the grind and happy we stayed during the protected ranking period.”
