Local lad Manas Dhamne, 15, will get wildcard for Pune ATP 250, has likelihood to make historical past

Fifteen-year-old Manas Dhamne will make his ATP debut in Pune on Monday after he was handed a wildcard for the primary draw of the Maharashtra Open, an ATP 250 occasion. Having turned 15 simply final week, the boy from Pune has the chance to develop into the youngest match-winner in ATP historical past, with the earlier report being set by Argentina’s Franca Davin again in 1985, who was 15 years and one month previous on the time.

The promising teenager is ranked eightieth on the planet, in accordance with the ITF Juniors rankings, and have become the youngest Indian to win a junior title on the ITF Asian B1 championships again in September.

Dhamne is at the moment coaching beneath famend Italian coach Riccardo Piatti, who has labored with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Jannik Sinner. The Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), proud of their residence participant, have given him the excellence of opening play on Centre Court on Monday, the place he takes on American Michael Mmoh. Dhamne could have the chance to not solely make historical past but additionally arrange an all-India conflict within the second spherical the place he might meet Sumit Nagal.

Nagal, the final Indian to play within the singles major draw of a Major, was additionally handed a wildcard into the primary draw. He takes on the powerful task of sixth seed Filip Krajinovic in his opener. Indian No. 1 Mukund Sasikumar was additionally handed a wildcard, and he’ll tackle qualifier Flavio Coboli within the first spherical.

Ramkumar Ramanathan, whose run to the ultimate in Newport in 2018 is probably the most notable end in Indian singles tennis just lately, was the one surviving member of the Indian contingent that took half in qualifying. Yuki Bhambri misplaced within the second-round qualifier in opposition to final 12 months’s semifinalist Elias Ymer, whereas Sidharth Rawat, Aditya Vishal Balsekar, and Prajnesh Gunneswaran all fell on the first hurdle.

Ramkumar vs Bopanna in doubles opening spherical

Ramanathan takes on Pedro Martinez within the first spherical, and could have his arms full the remainder of the week. After successful the doubles title in Pune final 12 months alongside Rohan Bopanna, the duo, now partnering others, take one another on within the first spherical. Bopanna is enjoying with Botic van de Zandschulp, whereas Ramanathan is partnering Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela.

Bhambri will proceed his promising partnership with countryman Saketh Myneni, as they tackle the third-seeded pairing of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. Purav Raja and Divij Sharan can even be within the doubles major draw, and so will Arjun Kadhe, together with traditional companion Fernando Romboli.

The greatest worldwide draw on the Balewadi Tennis Complex will probably be World No. 17 and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, who will open his season in India earlier than travelling for the Australian Open. As the highest seed, he has a bye within the first spherical, and can tackle certainly one of Roberto Carballes Baena, or Barnabe Zapata Miralles, within the second.

Notable first-round fixtures:

Manas Dhamne vs Michael Mmoh
Sumit Nagal vs (6) Filip Krajinovic
Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Pedro Martinez
Marco Cecchinato vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Pablo Andujar vs (8) Aslan Karatsev