The tennis fraternity in India woke up to the stunning news about Yuki Bhambri's win over World No. 22 Gael Monfils in the ATP Citi Open at Washington yesterday
Yuki Bhambri with his mom Indu
Yuki Bhambri with his mom Indu
The tennis fraternity in India woke up to the stunning news about Yuki Bhambri's win over World No. 22 Gael Monfils in the ATP Citi Open at Washington yesterday.
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Bhambri, 25, defeated the defending champion 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the second round for a place in the pre-quarterfinals.
India's Yuki Bhambri hits a shot in Washington yesterday. Pic/AFP
Back home in New Delhi, the Bhambri household was ecstatic that their only son could prove to naysayers that he still has the capability of creating upsets despite a string of recent injuries.
"We're really happy about this feat. To defeat a player ranked 22 in the world is a grand achievement. All the running about has paid off for Yuki. People said that he didn't have the athleticism to perform, so this result has proved everybody wrong. Yuki knows he can perform well.
Gael Monfils
He has been working on his strength and muscle training. Only results can speak and now that he has achieved it, I think people should realise what he's capable of," Yuki's mom Indu told mid-day over the phone yesterday.
Bhambri, ranked 200, took one hour and 51 minutes to create the upset over the sixth-seeded Frenchman. It is also only the second time that he has won two main draw matches at an ATP World Tour event since his quarter-final appearance at Chennai Open in January 2014.
The last time Yuki toppled a top-50 player was in September 2015 when he beat Czech Republic's Jiri Vesley. He now faces Guido Pella of Argentina. Pella, who had shown the door to another Indian Ramkumar Ramanathan in the opening round, defeated Mischa Zverev of Germany 6-7(5) 7-6(2) 6-3 in the second round.
"Yuki was also told by his coaches that he was talented. When he was training at the IMG Academy in Florida, Ryan Harrison's (American tennis ace) father, who is also a coach, told Yuki that he has to just believe in himself and be convinced that he can do well," the proud mom added.
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