Yuki Bhambri won his first ATP Challenger level singles title of the season and second of his career on Monday after humbling top seed American Bradely Klahn (ranked 123) in the rain-hit summit clash of the Traralgon event in Australia.
The 21-year-old Indian pipped his higher-ranked rival 6-7 (13), 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Yuki, ranked 277, was leading 4-2 in the final set on Sunday when skies opened up and forced suspension of play.
Playing his second Challenger final of the season, the Indian youngster took the court on Monday and held his nerves to emerge winner against a player, ranked 149 places above him.
It was Yuki's third straight win over a higher-ranked opponent in this tournament. He had beaten Japanese Tatsuma (191) Ito and James Duckworth (147) of Australia en route the final.
The victory was sweet revenge for Yuki as he had lost to Bradley in July this year in Binghamton.
Yuki had won his first singles title on the Challenger tour last year in Fergana, Uzbekistan.
In September, Yuki ended runners-up to Chinese Taipei's Yen-Hsun Lu in the Kaohsiung event in Taiwan.
Yuki earned 80 ranking points and pocketed $7,200 as prize money for the victory.
© 2024 Rediff.com -