Bopanna stands tall

CHENNAI: Rohan Bopanna played out of his skin to bust the rankings confines and fly into the main draw. He beat world number 197 Rajeev Ram 7-6 (2) 6-4 to qualify for the first time for an ATP Tour event.He became only the third Indian ever to qualify in the country’s lone ATP tournament. Sandeep Kirtane in 1996 and Harsh Mankad in the last edition have been the others.

 

In a battle between tall men — Ram is 6 feet four while Bopanna is just two inches shorter — who prefer the serve and volley style of play, it was Bopanna who would keep fighting despite a spirited Ram giving him little quarter.

 

Being broken in his very first service game, ‘Bofors’ refused to lapse into his sullen mode and instead broke back in the sixth to make it 3-3 in the first. He would break Ram twice to lead 5-2 in the second before finally keeping his head together to serve out the match with an ace. His 16 aces proved to be the decisive factor in a match where he would win a total of 78 point, just two more than the loser.