Upset alert in Pune! Ilya Ivashka, the former top-50 star, sent shockwaves through the Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 by knocking out top seed Federico Agustin Gomez in a thrilling three-setter: 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(7). The match at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex’s Balewadi venue captivated fans with its back-and-forth drama lasting over two hours.
Ivashka’s aggressive first set gave him a commanding lead, only for Gomez to equalize dramatically. In the breaker-deciding third, Ivashka’s mental fortitude prevailed, propelling him forward.
Strong performances marked other courts too. Yuta Shimizu straight-setted Lorenzo Carboni 6-4, 6-4. Alastair Gray grinded out a win against Daniel Michalski 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Duje Ajdukovic dominated Shin San-hui 6-2, 6-4.
Qualifiers made their mark: Takuya Kumasaka over Prjawal Dev 6-4, 6-2; Tung-Lin Wu past Digvijay Pratap Singh 7-5, 6-4; plus advances by Max Kasnikowski (6-4, 6-4 vs. Agafonov), Masamichi Imamura (6-4, 6-3 vs. Jorda Sanchis), Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (6-2, 6-3 vs. Huang), and Yusuke Takahashi (6-4, 6-3 vs. Binda).
This explosive start sets the stage for fierce rivalries. With ATP points and the championship on the line, Pune’s Challenger is poised for more surprises and stellar play.