PUNE/STARNBERG, February 20, 2025
In a match between youth and experience Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Sultanov came from behind to stop the run of Australian and former World No. 17 Bernard Tomic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reach the quarterfinals of the PMRDA Powered Maha Open ATP Challenger Tour 100 event.
In the best match of the day, 26-year-old Sultanov played solid tennis from the baseline to secure victory in one hour and 42 minutes. Khumoyun, a winner of nine titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour, reached his second quarterfinals on the Challenger Circuit.
“It feels very nice to play here and I like the conditions. I played solidly knowing that Tomic is tricky player and very experienced I didnt want to give him a chance,” said Sultanov after his win.
Top seeded Billy Harris of Great Britain looked in great form and hammered 14 aces on his way to a 7-5, 6-3 win over qualifier Hiroki Moriya in one hour 38 minutes. Fifth seeded Ugo Blanchet stopped the run of Kyrian Jacquet winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 in an all-French-battle. Jacquet, who captured the titles of the ATP Challenger tournaments in Chennai and Delhi, could not sustain his run and looked tired going down in one hour 48 minutes.
In full focus @billyharris95 marches into the Pune quarter-finals, taking down Moriya 7-5, 6-3#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/6FS9ho3eNY
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 20, 2025
Sixth seeded Brandon Holt of the United States spent one hour and 18 minutes on court to carve out a 6-4, 6-4 win against Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg of France.
THURSDAY RESULTS
Singles – Second Round
[1] Billy Harris (GBR) bt [Q] Hiroki Moriya (JPN) 7-5, 6-3;
Khumoyun Sultanov (UZB) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS)4-6, 6-3, 6-3;
[5] Ugo Blanchet (FRA) bt [Alt] Kyrian Jacquet (FRA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1;
[6] Brandon Holt (USA) bt Sascha Gueymard Wayenburg (FRA)6-4, 6-4;
Doubles – Quarterfinals
[1] Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) /Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND) bt Saketh Myneni / Ramkumar Ramanathan (Ind) 6-3, 2-6, 12-10;
[2] Blake Bayldon (AUS) / Matthew Christopher Romios (AUS) bt Enrico Dalla Valle (ITA) / Khumoyun Sultanov (UZB) 6-3, 4-6, 12-10;
Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha (IND) / Courtney John Lock (ZIM) bt [4] Blake Ellis / Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 10-8;
Jay Clarke(GBR) /Jurij Rodionov(AUT) bt PetrBar Biryukov /Ilia Simakin (Rus) 7-6(5), 6-3.
