Somdev makes US Open main draw

Here is some good news for Indian tennis fans. India’s Somdev Devvarman has qualified for the US Open.

Following victory over Briton James Ward in an intense three-setter, Somdev made it to the US main draw.

The sixth-seeded Somdev beat Ward 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the qualifying third round match that lasted two hours and 15 minutes.

Somdev converted both his break chances and saved three of his serves to win the first set in just 38 minutes. However, Ward clawed his way back into the match when he broke Somdev twice in the second set.

Somdev too had his chances but squandered all four break points he earned in the second set. In the fiercely fought decider, Somdev saved two break points and cashed in on two of the three chances to book a berth in the main draw.

"Happy to be through to the main draw. So excited for next week!!," Somdev posted on his Twitter page after the win.

Somdev now faces Slovakia's Lukas Lacko in the first round of the US open. Lacko is placed 28 slots above Somdev in the ATP rankings at 85. It will be first meeting between the two players.

In the first three Grand Slams of the season, Somdev reached second rounds of the Australian Open and French Open but failed to make the main draw at Wimbledon. 

Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images