Prajnesh enters singles' semi-final of ATP Challenger in Shanghai

In the 88-minute quarter-final match on Friday, Prajnesh Gunneswaran registered straight sets 6-4, 6-4 verdict against eighth seed Hiroki Moriya of Japan.

Gunneswaran served eight aces and committed two double faults while Moriya fired five aces and committed one double fault.

Gunneswaran won 83 per cent points (24/39) on his first service and 61 per cent points (14/23) on second service. Moriya won 63 per cent points (27/43) on his first service and 54 per cent points (14/26) on his first service.

Gunneswaran will now cross swords with fourth seed Ysutaka Uchiyama (Japan) in semi-final.

Meanwhile, second seeded Indian pair of Saketh Myneni and Divij Sharan lost to Australian pair of Marc Polmans and Scoot Puodziunas 6-2, 3-6, 13-11 in the doubles semi-final.

In a closely contested match which lasted one hour an 20 minutes Saketh Myneni and Divij Sharan kept their first service 80 per cent in. They saved two out of four break points and won one out of two break points.

Polmans/Puodziunas registered 70 per cent of their first service in and saved one out of two break points. The Australian pair saved two out of four points.

Saketh Myneni and Divij Sharan earned $1620 and 33 points.

In the doubles quarter-final, Indian pair of N Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan also bowed out as their rivals Goncalo Oliveira of Portugal and Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan 7-6 (1), 6-3 in 67 minutes.

Balaji/Vardhan earned $960 and 17 points. 

Image Credit: UNI