By Sudipto Ganguly
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Indian Prajnesh Gunneswaran flew to the other side of the world in hopes of sneaking into the main draw of the US Open, but suffered a costly disappointment when he was lost by just one spot.
Tournament organizers (USTA) held no qualifiers this year in an effort to reduce the number of people in their bio-security bubble in New York and Gunneswaran compatriot Sumit Nagal was the last man to gain direct entry. in the initial list.
However, with many players deciding not to travel to New York due to the pandemic, Chennai’s Gunneswaran, who was ranked five places behind Nagal at 132 when initial signups were announced, felt they still had a chance.
“I wanted to give myself the opportunity to play another slam, I wanted to make the effort to come here and see what happens,” the 30-year-old told Reuters in an interview.
tennis Grand Slam is considered a success in itself in cricket-mad India and Gunneswaran has previous experience of disappointment." data-reactid="32">Reaching the main singles draw in a tennis Grand Slam is considered a success in itself in cricket-mad India, and Gunneswaran has previous experiences of disappointment.
He was at the height of his Grand Slam debut as a lucky underdog at Roland Garros in 2018 when Australian Nick Kyrgios retired late due to injury.
Yet the Indian had already left Paris to travel to Italy for an ATP Challenger event after his defeat in the third and final qualifying round for the French Open.
She went on to qualify for her first main draw appearance at last year’s Australian Open, where she lost to American Frances Tiafoe in the first round, and played in every Grand Slam since Melbourne.
Gunneswaran arrived in New York the night before Thursday’s US Open draw and watched Egyptian Mohamed Safwat, placed just ahead of him on the alternate list, sneak in.
“When I was three when I left (India), I felt I had no chance or very low chance. And then suddenly a couple of guys dropped out and I was one out,” he said from the US by Telephone .
“I was hoping that maybe some sort of miracle could happen, but unfortunately it didn’t.”
There may be even more withdrawals at the US Open before it starts Monday, but the USTA’s COVID-19 protocols mean that vacancies will be filled by the doubles draw.
tennis players earned nothing for over five months due to the pandemic, Gunneswaran spent thousands of dollars to be at the Open and will now have to plan his travel ahead to the European claycourt events." data-reactid="40">In a year where professional tennis players have not earned anything for over five months due to the pandemic, Gunneswaran has spent thousands of dollars to participate in the Open and will now have to plan his trip in advance for European clay court events.
“I am disappointed, but I also have to accept that I am in this position based on my ranking,” said Gunneswaran, who peaked at 75 last year but slipped to 136.
“I have to improve if I want to guarantee myself positions in the main draws”.
(Reported by Sudipto Ganguly; edited by Toby Davis)
