Maharashtra’s top two tennis players, Arjun Kadhe, Pune and Aryan Goveas, Mumbai have been awarded main draw wild cards at India’s longest running ATP challenger, the KPIT MSLTA ATP Challenger, organized by MSLTA and PMDTA, which will be played at the Mhalunge-Balewadi Tennis Complex in the city from November 17 to 24.
The tournament, which is the oldest and most consistent Challenger in India and being played for the fifth consecutive year will see all the top Indian names, apart from players from over 20 countries make up a strong lineup.
Mr. Kishor Patil President of PMDTA and Chairman of the organizing committee and MD of KPIT said, “I’m happy that we have been able to achieve a fair success with our aim to promote Indian tennis players and Asian players through the event.
“Over the last four years our winners have moved into the top 100 club with their wins here and ee hope this year too this event will help the winner to move into the coveted Top-100 bracket,” Mr. Patil added.
This year the event is particularly strong with a high cutoff of 283. Maharashtra Boys Arjun Kadhe and Aryan Goveas will be awarded Main Draw wild Cards in Singles
Mr. Sunder Iyer Hon Sec of MSLTA said, “We expect at least 8-10 players from India to make it to ATP draws in the main draw, apart from Davis Cuppers Ramkumar Ramnathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who have entry into their event on their own ranking strength and besides the four Indian wild cards we expect 2 to 3 other Indians to come from the qualifying draw,” he added.
Mr. Kaustubh Shah, the organizing secretary added that the event will also be like a mini rehearsal for the upcoming Tata Open Maharashtra in 2019. “We are making arrangements for the event to be on par with a tour event,” he added.
The KPIT Challenger, apart from the tournament proper, adds up a host of tennis festive activities for all segments. “This year we plan to introduce Wheelchair tennis in Pune and Maharashtra. AITA brand Ambassador for wheelchair will be conducting a daylong seminar for Pune coaches on how to coach wheelchair players. India’s Davis Cup Coach Zeeshan Ali will also be attending the tournament and will be conducting a Clinic for Pune players during the event,” Added Abhishek Tamhane secretary of PMDTA and Mr. Shah who is also the PMDTA treasurer.
A special committee comprising Narendra Sopal , Umesh Mane, Sekhar Sonsale, Ashwin Girme, Sheetal Iyer, Pravin Zite, Jayant Kadhe and KPIT officials has been formed to ensure the smooth conduct of the event
Andrei Kornilov of Uzbekistan has been nominated ATP Supervisor for the event, while Nitin Kannanwar has been appointed as the ATP Referee.
The qualifying round will be played on November 17 and 18 followed by the main draws which begin on November 19. The semifinals and doubles final is scheduled for Friday, 23 November, while the Finals will be played on Saturday 24 November.
The winner of the KPIT Men’s Challenger will get $7,200 (Rs 5,25,000) and gain 80 ATP points, while the runners-up will get $4,053 (Rs. 2,95,000) and 55 ATP points.
Following are the probable seeds:
1 Radu Albot, (MDA 86), 2 Ramkumar Ramanathan, (IND 121),
3. Elias Ymer (SWE 132), 4. Marc Polmans (AUS 137), 5. Prajnesh Gunneswaran, (IND 142),
6. Jay Clarke, (GBR 175), 7. Hiroki Moriya, (JPN 187), 8. Andrej Martin, (SVK 189),
PAST WINNERS: KPIT ATP CHALLENGER
SINGLES
2014: Yūichi Sugita (Japan) b Adrián Menéndez-Maceiras (Spain ) 6–7 (1–7), 6–4, 6–4
2015: Yuki Bhambri (India) b Evgeny Donskoy (Russia ) 6–2, 7–6 (7–4)
2016: Sadio Doumbia (France) b Prajnesh Gunneswaran (India) 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
2017: Yuki Bhambri(India) b Ramkumar Ramanathan 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
DOUBLES
2014: Saketh Myneni / Sanam Singh (India ) b Sanchai / Sonchat Ratiwatana (Thailand) 6–3, 6–2.
2015: Gerard Granollers / Adrián Menéndez-Maceiras (Spain) b Maximilian Neuchrist (Austria)/ Divij Sharan (India ) 1–6, 6–3, [10–6]
2016: Purav Raja/ Divij Sharan (India) b Luca Margaroli (Swi)/ Hugo Nys (France) 3–6, 6–3, [11–9]
2017: Tomislav Brkic/ Ante Pavic b Pedro Martinez/ Adrián Menéndez Maceiras 6-1,7-6(5)