Tata Open Maharashtra: Teenager Manas Dhamne impresses despite loss on ATP Tour debut

Young Manas Dhamne has had a powerful ATP Tour principal draw debut regardless of a 2-6, 4-6 loss to USA’s Michael Mmoh within the opening spherical of the Tata Open Maharashtra on the Balewadi Stadium on Monday.

Awarding Manas, who turned 15 final week, a wildcard entry into the primary draw did elevate a number of eyebrows, however the native boy stood as much as the problem in opposition to an opponent who was 9 years older and bodily stronger than him.

A 15-shot opening rally, which ended with Manas hitting a forehand down the road and discovering the nook on the baseline, set the tone for the entertaining fixture, which went on for an hour and 28 minutes.

“The first point was really important. I wanted to play the first point in the first game very solidly and not miss, and I played the game that way. The first point calmed me down a little bit and the nervousness went away,” stated Manas within the post-match press convention.

While Mmoh had the benefit of an even bigger serve (Mmoh’s first serve speeds had been near 200 km/h as in comparison with Manas’ 175 km/h) and duly earned lots of free factors, Manas did handle to indicate flashes of brilliance in between. Two of these got here within the fourth sport itself.

First, he executed the mixture of a drop shot drawing Mmoh in direction of the online adopted by a crunch crosscourt backhand cross to make it 15-all. Then, at 40-Ad, he hit a crosscourt backhand drop shot winner, which had the 6’2” American smiling.

In the second set, Manas was down 1-5 earlier than launching a surprising counter-attack to win 12 of the subsequent 15 factors and make it 4-5.

However, Mmoh managed to tug issues again simply in time and, regardless of being 0-30 down, served it out efficiently for a spot within the second spherical.

Manas performed clear tennis, not committing even a single double fault. However, the shortage of expertise was seen when he couldn’t convert two breakpoint alternatives within the first set and allowed Mmoh to nearly run away with the second.

‘No pressure’

Manas, who trains at Piatti Tennis Center in Bordighera, Italy, and performed his first senior stage match at a Challenger occasion in the identical nation, stated he didn’t really feel any stress going into the match.

“I had no expectations because I did not know what the match would be like. I have never played with any of these guys before. I just wanted to go on the court and play as I play and that was the only thing in my mind,” stated Manas, ranked 80 in ITF Junior World Rankings.

The Pune boy even felt that he had sufficient vitality left had the match gone to a 3rd set.

While Argentina’s Franco Davin 38-year-old document of being the youngest participant ever to win an ATP Tour principal draw match lives one other day, Manas did present some promise to cherish.