Tashkent Challenger: Bopanna in round II

Rohan Bopanna set up a second round clash with top seed Lu Yen-Hsun after winning a tough first round of the $ 1,25,000 ATP Challenger tournament in Tashkent at Olympic Tennis School on Tuesday.

Bopanna, who entered the main draw via qualifying competition, quelled the challenge of Ilia Marchenko 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in a first round contest, lasting close to two hours, in the hard court event.

Hsun of Chinese Taipei beat former World number one junior Kristian Pless of Denmark 6-3, 6-4 in his opening round match.

Meanwhile, Indian Davis Cupper Prakash Amritraj defeated Australian Robert Smeets to enter the second round of $ 50,000 Calabasas Challenger tournament in California in United States.

Amritraj, ranked 227 in ATP charts beat Smeets, placed 55 rungs above him 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the hard court event.

He next faces Peru's Ivan Miranda who toppled fifth seed American Kevin Kim 7-5, 7-6 (2) in his first round encounter. 

Another Indian in the fray in the singles competition is Davis Cupper Somdev Devvarman.