Maintaining his winning streak, Prakash Amritraj ousted second seed Michal Mertinek of Slovakia to storm into the quarter-finals in the ATP Challenger in Dharwad, Karnataka, on Thursday.
Amritraj battled for 172 minutes to get the better of Mertinek 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7-5).
However, the other Indians in the fray -- Rohan Bopanna, Vishal Uppal and Mustafa Ghouse, all wild cards, crashed out of the tournament.
Garcia Lopez Guillermo (Spain) defeated Vishal Uppal 7-6(7-5), 6-3, while Takahiro Terachi (Japan) crushed Bopanna 7-6(7-5), 6-0.
Mustafa Ghouse also crashed out of the tournament, losing to Rik De Voest of South Africa 1-6, 2-6.
Though Amritraj caused the biggest upset of the day, he was not at his best. After winning the first set, he lost his rhythm in the second.
In the decider, both players held their serve till 6-6, forcing the tie-breaker. At 3-3 in the tie-break, Mertinek netted a backhand that gave Amritraj the lead (4-3). The Indian Davis Cupper increased his lead to 5-3 but an error on his part narrowed his lead to 5-4.
Serving at 4-5, Mertinek lost his cool and netted the ball (4-6). He reduced the deficit to 5-6, but Amritraj won the next point as Mertinek's return went wide to take the set and match.
In the Friday's quarter-finals, Amritraj will take on Mylnark (Aut) while Danani Udomchoke of Thailand, who beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-4, 7-5, will clash with Philip Kohlschreiber (Ger).
Rik de Voest will meet Garcia Lopez and Takahiro will take on Wang Yu Tzuzoo.
Amritraj later paired with Rik De Voest (South Africa) to beat Ghouse Mustafa and Vishal Uppal of India 6-3, 6-4.
Results: (singles second round) all Indians unless otherwise specified: Takahiro Terachi (Japan) beat Rohan Bopanna (India) 7-6(7-5), 6-0; Prakash Amritraj bt Michal Mertinak (SVK) 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7-5); Danani Udomchoke (Thailand) bt Teimuraz Gabashvili (Russia) 6-4, 7-5; Guillermo Garcia Lopez (ESP) bt Vishal Uppal 7-6(7-3), 6-3; Rik De Vocst (South Africa) bt Mustafa Ghouse 6-1, 6-2, Wang Yue-Tzouo (TPE) bt Kllski Lauri (Finland) 6-2, 6-0; Phillip Kohlschreiber (Germany) bt Kentario Masuda (Japan) 6-4, 6-3.
Doubles (first Round): Prakash Amritraj and De Voest (SA) bt Vishal Uppal and Mustafa Ghouse 6-3, 6-4; Toshihide Matsui (Jpn)/Danai Udomchoke (Thai) bt Fransesco Aldi (Italy)/Leonardo Azzaro (Itly) 6-1, 6-1; Sanchai Ratiwatana/ Sonchat Ratiwatana (Thai) bt Socda Go (Jpn) Sugiyama Norikazu (Jpn) 7-6(7-4), 6-3; Rohan Bopanna/Harsh Mankad bt Gabashvili (Rus)/Vlaslov Dmitry (Rus) 6-4, 6-2; James Auckland (GBR)/Lee Childs (GBR) bt Dieter Kindlmann (Germany)/Phillip Kohleschreiber (Ger) 7-5, 6-4; Michal Mertinak/BranislavSekac (SVK) bt Aslam Ul Haq (PAK)/ Wang Yeu Tzuoo (TPE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
