Divij-Raja in final of Kyoto Challenger

The top seeded Indian pair of Divij Sharan and Purav Raja reached their first final of the season together after overcoming a fighting combo of Toshihide Matsui and Danai Udomchoke in straight sets in the ATP Kyoto Challenger event on Friday.

The Indians prevailed 7-6 (4), 7-5 over the Japanese-Thai pair in one hour and 24 minutes in the semi-finals of the $40,000 event.

They will fight it out with second seeds, Thailand's Sanchai Ratiwatana and New Zealand's Michael Venus, who outclassed third seeded Taipei pair of Hsien-Yin Peng and Tsung-Hua Yang 6-0, 6-2 in just 41 minutes in the other semi-final.

It will be left-handed Divij's second final of the season, having ended runner-up at Kolkata Challenger with compatriot Vishnu Vardhan.

Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images