Chennai, Jan 8 : Somdev Devvarman today pulled off the biggest win of his career upsetting former French Open champion Carlos Moya in the second round of the USD 450,000 ATP Chennai Open here today.
The 22-year old US collegiate champion overcame a first set lapse to shock Moya, a double champion here, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in a gruelling two hours and 11 minute contest.
Somdev also became the first Indian to make the quarter-finals at this event since Leander Paes reached the semifinals in 1998.
This is also for the first time that Somdev has reached the last-eight stage of an ATP event and he will be up against big serving Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who outclassed Czech player Ivo Minar 6-1, 6-4 in his second round match.
Somdev challenged the intimidating opponent with grit as he levelled the opening set 3-3 despite dropping the second game.
It went with serves from there till Moya broke the Indian in the 10th game to race away with the 1-0 lead.
It was neck-and-neck fight in the second set, which tilted in Somdev's favour when he broke his rival in the 11th game and held his own serve in the next game.
No player was willing to concede an inch and there was hardly any chance to make even a marginal error.
Somdev saved six breakpoints in the second game and then grabbed the opportunity of breaking Moya in the next game and continued holding his serve to emerge winner. - Agencies
Jan 09, 2009