India’s Prajnesh moves to second round in Australian Open

India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran knocked out third seed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan from the Australian Open Qualifiers with a straight set victory. Ranked 221, left-handed Prajnesh beat 119th ranked Galan 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 13 minutes in the first round at court number six of the Melbourne Park.
Prajnesh hit a crushing backhand winner from the middle of the court to open up a break opportunity in the third game of the opening set and converted the second chance with a deep return that Galan sent on the net with his forehand as he will next take on the winner of the match between Germany’s Maximilian Marterer and Croatia’s Nino Serdarusic.
 Prajnesh found himself down a breakpoint when he was serving for the match as he hit a forehand long at 30-30 but saved that with a good serve. Again, he hit a forehand soaring over the baseline with nerves perhaps getting the better of him. However, he saved that break chance too with a booming serve. However, Prajnesh eventually finished the match with an easy winner in open court with Galan stranded on one flank of the court.  India’s other players Ramkumar Ramanathan, Yuki Bhambri and Ankita Raina are also playing the Australian Open.