Qualifier Kovalik Beats Cilic In Chennai

Slovakian qualifier Jozef Kovalik, competing against a Top 10 player for the first time in his career, knocked out top seed and 2009-2010 champion Marin Cilic 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5 on Wednesday in the Aircel Chennai Open second round.

Kovalik, who finished at a year-end best No. 117 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last season, withstood 18 aces from Cilic and saved nine of 11 break points for victory in two hours and 48 minutes. He goes on to meet Tecnifibre-sponsored Daniil Medvedev, who defeated eighth seed Yen-Hsun Lu 6-4, 6-3 in 86 minutes.

Elsewhere, third seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas swept past Steve Darcis 6-2, 6-0 in 64 minutes. He will next face Dudi Sela, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Hyeon Chung.

In doubles, fourth seeds Nicholas Monroe and Artem Sitak defeated Konstantin Kravchuk and Mikhail Youzhny 7-6(5), 6-3 to reach the last eight and home hopes Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan topped Marcelo Demoliner and Nikola Mektic 6-4, 6-4 for a quarter-final meeting with James Cerretani and Philipp Oswald.