Somdev in semis, Sanam loses in ATP challenger

Somdev Devverman extended his brilliant run at the ATP Challenger event in Charlottesville in USA to book a berth in the semi-finals but it was curtains for compatriot Sanam Singh, who lost a hard-fought quarter-final.

Third seed Somdev hardly had any trouble to see off the challenge of Dutch Matwe Middelkoop as he scored a 6-3, 6-4 win in the last-eight stage match of the $50,000 hard court event.

He will fight it out with American fifth seed and wild card Ryan Sweeting for a place in the summit clash. Sweeting shocked top seed Michael Russell 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(1).

Sanam, who returned to professional circuit after a long period, fought his heart out but lost the quarter-final 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-7(5) to second seed and World No 87 American Kevin Kim.