Amalraj impresses to progress into second successive Challenger final

by Shrutee K/DNS

Producing some steady, consistent performances India’s Amalraj Anthony came up with another impressive showing and progressed to his second straight Challenger finals, by making it to the title round of the 2017 ITTF Challenge, Brazil Open. The Indian paddler Amalraj played with plenty of resilience and showed solid fighting qualities to overcome Bulgaria’s Philipp Floritz 4-3 in a long drawn semi-final encounter in Sao Paulo, according to information received, here, on Sunday.

Last week, Amalraj had lost to compatriot Soumyajit Ghosh in the Chile Open final.

Amalraj, world rank No. 147, was slow to get off blocks and surrendered the initiative to Floritz, ranked 219, by losing the first two games quite tamely. He, however, seemed to have found his rhythm and range of shot in the next and did well, to closely with the third and fourth games to draw level (2-2). The Bulgarian once again went ahead by winning the fifth and was within distance of snatching a win. But, Amalraj showed that he is made of sterner stuff and not the one to give up without a fight. He held his nerves and hit some fine shots to clinch the last two games by narrow margins to close the match at 6-11,6-11,11-9,11-9,8-11,11-9,11-9 and book a spot in the final.

The Indian now runs in to Brazil’s world ranked no. 25, Hugo Calderano who sidelined his countryman Gustavo Tsuboi 4-1 (11-3,11-6, 6-11,11-6, 11-8).

In the previous round, Amalraj enjoyed an easy outing as he outclassed Romania’s Hunor Szocs in straight games 4-0. In a quarter-final round encounter, the Indian fired on all cylinders and faced a bit of a challenge in the second game as he coasted to a fluent 11-6, 13-11, 11-8, 11-7 win.

Soumyajit failed to cross the first hurdle losing to Eric Jouti of Brazil 1-4 (11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 9-11, 7-11) in the round of 16 match.