But nagal

Bengaluru Open ATP Challengers Series: India’s Sumit Nagal stayed on course for a back-to-back ATP Challenger crown as he got the better of Adam Walton in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the Bengaluru Open 2024 being played at the KSLTA Tennis Stadium here on Friday.

The second-seeded Indian star, who broke into the world top-100 after a title triumph in Chennai last week, was tested by Walton in the opening set but kept his composure under pressure to register a 7-5, 6-2 win and set up a semifinal clash against 7th seed Stephano Napolitano of Italy. Napolitano defeated Tunisia’s Moez Echargui 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the other quarterfinal.

However, it was heartbreak for another Indian in the draw, Ramkumar Ramanathan, as he went down against 9th seed Seongchan Hong of South Korea after a hard-fought three-set encounter. Ramkumar had fought back from a set down to force a decider but Hong proved a bit strong for the Indian in the business end of the third seed and won the match 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. The South Korean will now face Oriol Roca Batalla of Spain for a spot in the final.