Som’s class act at Washington Classic

Being an underdog has its advantage. Not bearing the pressure of producing results constantly is one of them. Ask Somdev Devvarman!

Somdev’s 7-5 6-4 win over Croatian world No. 15 Marin Cilic is a path breaking one for him in many ways. Not only has he reached the third round of Legg Mason Classic, Washington DC., but this win will also provide him a lot of confidence in the US hard court season, a place where he enjoys a good record. Not to speak of the sweet revenge that he has exacted for his Chennai Open defeat earlier this year.

“It’s a big win for me. It’s good to see my hard work is paying off well,” the 24-year-old told DNA on Wednesday. “Now I’m focused on my next match and trying to prepare for it in the best possible way.”

Winner of back-to-back US College titles, Somdev said there was no feeling of avenging a defeat. He added that Cilic is a great player, ranked 15 in the world, and he competed like he did with any other player. “There are no hard feelings. He’s a great guy. We were just two competitors.”

After four tiresome days of tennis, Somdev will have a well-deserved off day on Wednesday and will face 33rd-ranked Croatian super server Ivo Karlovic or Germany’s Rainer Schuettler in Round 3.

Devvarman beat Karlovic in his run to the 2009 Chennai Open final. But he feels it’s too early to think about that match. “Rest, recovery and practice is all I’ll do on my off day. I will plan about my next match only after I come to know who my opponent will be,” he said.

Somdev has had a decent run over the last month. After a semifinal appearance in the Aptos Challengers and entering the main draw of the LA Open, he now has reached the third round of an ATP Tour event. “I am playing much better than the earlier part of the year since Chennai open. I just want to go from strength to strength and keep improving my game,” he said.

If he manages to pass the next hurdle, he might as well run into Andy Roddick in the quarters. For that, he knows it’s still a long way to go. “Andy who?” joked Somdev. “I’m aware of where I am but I have to take it one match at a time.” —With agency inputs.

Results
Singles: S Devvarman (IND) bt 6-M Cilic (CRO) 7-5 6-4; J Ferrero (ESP) bt N Lapentti (ECU) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-0; R Schuettler (GER) bt L Mayer (ARG) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5); T Haas (GER) bt F. Dancevic (CAN): 6-1 4-6 6-4; S De Chaunac (FRA) bt D Istomin (UZB) 6-3 7-6(7)

Doubles: S Huss (AUS)/R Hutchins (GBR) bt M. Melo /A. Sa (BRA): 6-1 6-4; 2-D Nestor (CAN)/N Zimonjic (SRB) bt J Coetzee (SRA)/J Erlich (ISR) 4-3 Retd; F Gonzalez (CHI)/T Robredo (ESP) bt  J Isner (USA)/S Querrey (USA) 3-6 7-6(5) 10-6; C Guccione (AUS)/L. Hewitt (AUS) bt 4-B Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 4-6 7-5 12-10; 3-M. Bhupati (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) bt M Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) 7-6(6) 2-6 10-7; B Becker (GER) bt R Ginepri (USA) 7-6(3) 6-7(1) 7-6(4); MDamm(CZE)/R Lindstedt (SWE) bt L Kubot (POL)/O Marach (AUT) 7-5 7-5.