Somdev, Divij-Raja advance in Nottingham Challenger

Indian players made a positive start at the ATP Nottingham Challenger event as Somdev Devvarman recorded victory in singles while Divij Sharan and Purav Raja advanced to the doubles quarter-finals in Nottingham.

Somdev, ranked 140, defeated local qualifier Brydan Klein, 7-6(2), 6-4 in the opening round of the euro 64,000 grass court event. The Briton is placed 113 rungs below Somdev. He next faces American fifth seed Jack Sock who is ranked 102.

In the doubles event of the same tournament, fourth seeded Indian pair of Divij and Raja overcame a fighting Rik De Voest of South Africa and Adil Shamasdin of Canada 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 in the opening round.

Divij and Raja raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set with two consecutive breaks.

In the second set also, the Indians had some early chances, deuce break points on rivals' first two service games, but could not convert.

Divij and Raja then dropped serve in the sixth game and went on to lose the set. The match tie-breaker was fought fiercely but eventually the Indians prevailed.

They next play Go Soeda of Japan and Ruan Roelofse of South Africa.

Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images