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Murugesan topples Rastogi to enter semis

November 17, 2011 19:36 IST

Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan shocked higher ranked Indian compatriots Karan Rastogi and Vijayant Malik to enter the semi-finals in the US $15,000 Solaris ITF Men's Futures Tennis Championships in Pune on Thursday.

Sixth seed Ranjeet sent fourth seeded Davis Cupper Rastogi packing in three sets in a rousing quarter-final battle, while unseeded Jeevan shut out fifth seed Malik in straight sets to enter the last four.

In a match lasting just over two hours, Ranjeet came back from a set and 3-4 down to topple the fancied Rastogi 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Left-handed Jeevan, who has returned after finishing his college education in the United States, played brilliant tennis to oust Malik 6-3, 6-1 in 52 minutes.

The two upset winners will battle it out on Friday for a spot in Saturday's final.

The other semi-final, also an all-India contest, will see top seed Yuki Bhambri take on third seed Vishnu Vardhan.

Bhambri knocked out eighth seed Richard Becker of Germany 7-5, 7-5, while Vardhan sailed past countryman Karunuday Singh 6-1, 6-4 in another quarter-final.

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