CHENNAI,

Jan 2,

(PTI),

KOREAN qualifier Hyeon Chung produced the first upset of the ATP Chennai Open by ousting last year’s finalist Borna Coric with a straight-set win in the opening round of the USD 505730 hard court event here on Monday.
Coric, the world number 48, struggled with his first serve and forehand while Chung was unrelenting in his 6-3, 7-5 win over the Croat.

Coric, who struggled with his knee last season, said it was not an issue in today’s defeat.
“It was not due to my knee. My serve was off today and I did not play well. I am not surprised with the way he (Chung) played. I knew he was a good player,” Coric said after a disappointing start to the new season.
Coric struggled in the entire two hours and one minute contest as he was broken in the very first game of the match. He held on to his second service game but a double fault saw him yield the advantage back to Chung in the fifth game. Down 3-5, he double faulted again to be locked in a battle of deuces.

Another qualifier to make the second round was Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik, who sent packing Portugal’s Elias Gastao as he rallied to eke out a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2 win in two hours and 20 minutes.
Bopanna looks to end Grand Slam drought with Cuevas
ROHAN Bopanna has struggled to achieve success at the Grand Slams after his maiden appearance at the US Open final in 2013 and the seasoned Indian is hoping to end the drought at the Majors having teamed up with singles world number 22 Pablo Cuevas for 2017 season.
Bopanna, who has paired up with Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan for the season-opener Chennai Open, said winning a Grand Slam was his dream and the new partnership gives him hope. He made the US Open final with Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi of Pakistan in 2010 and after that he has three semi-final appearances—Wimbledon (2013, 2015) and US Open (2011) at the Grand Slams.

“It’s a dream to win a Grand Slam, hopefully it (new partnership) will make a difference. I have always liked the way he plays the game. I have played numerous times against him. He is a solid player who serves and stays at the back, just like Florin. He has won one Grand Slam before,” Bopanna said.