Karlovskiy, Ramanathan, in tennis singles final

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Evgeny Karlovskiy and Ramkumar Ramanathan stormed into the final of the ATP Tennis Challenger, organized by the Ministry of Interior’s Public Security Sports Association and being held at the Public Security’s Officers Club courts in Gudaibiya.

On the penultimate day of the tournament, Karlovskiy overcame a shaky start to edge his Turkish opponent Yanki Erel 2-1 in an exciting come-from behind semi-final match which lasted over three hours yesterday (Saturday).

The unseeded Russian was falling behind to the 21-year-old Turkish early in the game and lost his first set 3-6, before coming back strong in the second which he won 7-6’6’. The third set was a neck and neck affair eventually Karlovskiy proved the stronger side to clinch the set 6-3 and with it the match.

Ït was a very tough game for me,” said an exhausted Karlovskiy after his victory. “In the beginning, I couldn’t find my game and struggled a lot, I kept fighting hard but couldn’t find the right shots”. “Erel played so well, very good tennis by him and was a very tough player to beat today.

He was one point away from winning the match when I found my rhythm in the game and took the second set, then the third to win the match,” added the Moscow-resident finalist.

“I hope that this win would give me more confidence boost for tomorrow’s final and in the upcoming tournaments. But for now I need to recover well and prepare for my final and show my best tennis from the first point,” further explained Karlovskiy.

The 27-year-old Russian will now play in the final, scheduled for today, against, sixth seed Indian Ramkumar Ramanathan who defeated the tournament’s seventh seed Briton Jay Clarke 2-1 in another thrilling semi-final encounter.

Ramanathan, aged 27, was also falling behind in the game, going down in the first set 5-7, before staging a superb comeback to win the next two sets 6-3, 6-2 and with it the match.

“Ït was a very close match, I think Clarke started off very well and made me play a lot of balls but I just kept serving well and fighting back,” said the victorious Ramanathan.

“The crowd was also good supporting me during the match, it was lively atmosphere to play in so I am so happy to have won this crucial match.

Now I just have to keep going and hope that I can continue doing my best”.” Today’s final will be followed by the prize distribution ceremony, putting the curtain down on this 10-day international tournament, being held in the Kingdom for the second time.