The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Somdev Dev Varman bows out

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Somdev Dev Varman bows out

Bucharest: India’s Somdev Dev Varman bowed out in the first round of the Romanian Open being beaten by third-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday.

At the Bali Open in Nusa Dua, Russian Nadia Petrova adjusted to the searing tropical heat to post a 6-3, 6-1 win over Japan’s Aiko Nakamura to reach the second round.

“I feel confident now,” said fourth seed Petrova, who won in Cincinnati this year but has slumped to 21 in the WTA rankings from the third spot two years ago.

“I’ve adjusted to conditions. I felt a lot faster on court and was moving well. The first round is always tough — it’s important to make a confident first step,” she said.

Italian third seed Flavia Pennetta, who beat Petrova in the third round of the U.S. Open, had to struggle through a long first set before finally subduing American Vania King 7-6(7), 6-1.

The 19th-ranked Pennetta, who reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, next plays Russia’s Anastasia Rodionova who advanced when Ukraine’s Julia Vakulenko retired from their first round clash, trailing 6-2, 3-0.

Ukrainian Olga Savchuk defeated Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva 7-5, 6-2.

Savchuk next faces top seed and 2007 finalist Daniela Hantuchova, who had a bye in the first round.

Kudryavtseva, who gained notoriety by beating Maria Sharapova in the second round at Wimbledon and then criticising the style icon’s fashion sense, appeared on the informal runway in Bali as part of a tournament promotion.

Two more Italians joined Pennetta in the second round.

Tathiana Garbin stopped Melinda Czink 6-2, 7-6(3), and seventh-seeded Sara Errani put out South African Natalie Grandin 6-2, 6-1.

The results:

At Nusa Dua: Bali Open WTA tournament: First round:

Jill Craybas bt Aleksandra Wozniak 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Tathiana Garbin bt Melinda Czink 6-2, 7-6(3); Chan Yung-jan bt Vasilisa Bardina 6-2, 6-1.

Olga Savchuk bt Alla Kudryavtseva 7-5, 6-2; Nadia Petrova bt Aiko Nakamura 6-3, 6-1; Anastasia Rodionova bt Julia Vakulenko 6-2, 3-0 (retd.).

At Bucharest: Romanian Open: Men’s singles first round:

Richard Gasquet bt Oscar Hernandez 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Teimuraz Gabashvili bt Ernests Gulbis 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Gilles Simon bt Evgeny Korolev 6-1, 6-2.

Pablo Andujar bt Brian Dabul 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Jose Acasuso bt Diego Junqueira 6-2, 6-4; Nicolas Almagro bt Somdev Dev Varman 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5. — Agencies

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