Carlos Moya is not used to the Chennai faithful directing their applause his opponent’s way. But then again, he probably hadn’t bargained for just how much damage Somdev Devvarman could do to his title credentials at the Chennai Open. A few Spain flags bravely fluttered through the stands around centre court, but Somdev won over the few Moya supporters too, and as he stood with his arms raised and a wide smile after his 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over the Spanish sixth seed, the crowd applauded his effort as one.

Two hours and 13 minutes before the final mis-hit from Moya ended the match, though, an Indian entry into the quarter-finals had looked distinctly unlikely. The difference of 160 ranking places between him and his much-travelled opponent must have been preying on the Indian’s mind, betrayed by a couple of nervous forehands, and it was Moya who struck first with a break.

“The key in any match against good players is you have to believe in yourself. When I won a few good points from the baseline, I was hanging in there. I thought, I can win this,” said Somdev, speaking after his match.

The belief began with a flicker, but soon flared into a reckoning force Moya couldn’t fight with. The former world No 1 got broken back within a few minutes, and even though he snuck in with a timely break as Somdev served at 4-5, winning the set 6-4, the Indian made it clear he wasn’t going to be dealt with so easily.

... contd.