Krajinovic Fends Off Home Favourite Nagal In Pune Battle

Filip Krajinovic made a winning start to his 2023 season Monday at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune, but not before the sixth-seeded Serbian was given a mighty scare by home favourite Sumit Nagal.

After Krajinovic took the opening set of the pair’s maiden ATP Head2Head meeting, Nagal converted his first break point of the match in the 10th game of the second set to draw level in the first-round clash at the ATP 250 event in India. It was Krajinovic who found something extra to break at the tailend of the deciding set, however, as he completed a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.

There was no dream victory for Nagal’s 15-year-old countryman Manas Dhamne on his ATP Tour debut, but the #NextGenATP talent still produced some moments of magic for the home fans in his first-round clash against American Michael Mmoh.

Dhamne, who only turned 15 on 29 December, is currently No. 80 in the ITF Junior Rankings, and highlights of his tour-level debut included breaking the World No. 113 Mmoh to love in the second set. The American held firm to complete a 6-2, 6-4 victory against the young wild card, however, and he will face Krajinovic next.

There were a pair of first-round upsets on Monday in western India as Laslo Djere and Tallon Griekspoor both dismissed seeded opponents in straight sets. Djere fired 12 aces en route to his 6-2, 6-4 victory against fifth seed Alex Molcan, and the Serbian will next face Elias Ymer or Maximilian Marterer.

Greikspoor kicked off his 2023 season by easing past seventh seed Jaume Munar 6-4, 7-5. The Dutchman, who is currently No. 95 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings but reached a career-high No. 44 in August, will meet Marco Cecchinato in the second round after the Italian downed five-time tour-level titlist Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-2, 6-2.