Prajnesh finishes runners up in Orlando Open, regains India's no.1 title

Indian tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran ended as the runner-up at the Orlando Open, losing the final clash of the ATP Challenger event to American Brandon Nakashima on Sunday. Prajnesh couldn't match the power to beat the American, losing 3-6 4-6 in the USD 52,080 hard court tournament.

The Indian Davis Cupper failed to convert a single of the eight break chances that came his way in an hour and 28 minute contest. It is Prajnesh’s second straight runner-up finish. He had reached the final at the Cary Challenger last week. The result will help Prajnesh move up to 128 from 137. He has already locked the India number one rank with his Orlando show, overtaking Sumit Nagal. Serving at 2-3, 30-all, Prajnesh buried a forehand to the net to be down a break point but saved it with an ace.

Back to back runners-up finishes for @PrajneshGP 💪 pic.twitter.com/EFHiAfZyHE

— Indian Tennis Daily (@IndTennisDaily) November 23, 2020

Another forehand error by Prajnesh gave Nakakshima another chance but the Indian saved that too with a well set-up winner. However, Nakashima’s strong ground-strokes brought him another chance and this time Prajnesh could not save, sending a backhand over the baseline.

An easy hold put the American ahead 5-2. He returned to serve out the set without any fuss. In the third game of the second set, Prajnesh dropped serve and squandered two break chances in the next game to let 19-year-old Nakashima run away with his maiden Challenger level singles trophy.

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