BHUBANESWAR 23-Sep-2015
Chinmay Pradhan became the first tennis player from Odisha to get into ATP ranking by beating fellow Indian Bhavesh Gour (World rank 1588) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the ITF Futures Tournament at Madurai (Tamil Nadu) yesterday.
After gaining his first ATP point, he lost to world No 604 Sasi Kumar Mukund (India) 1-6, 4-6 in the second round today. Bhubaneswar-based Pradhan qualified for the main draw by winning two matches earlier at the qualifying stage. He beat former world no 1288 Garvit Batra (India) in the first round and Gagan Sharma (India) in the second.
According his coach Santosh Mallik, the first ATP point will bring Chinmay in the world ranking of around 1700 to 1800. Three weeks back, Chinmay had the chance to collect ATP point by reaching the main draw in the F11 Futures Tournament at Chennai, but squandered it by losing to World No 394 Jeevan Neduncheziyan (India).
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PHOTO: Chinmay Pradhan after securing his first ATP point in Madurai on Sept 22, 2015.