Yuki Bhambri was well on course of an upset win over world number 51 Lukas Rosol but squandered three match points and made a first round exit from the Dubai Duty Free Tenis Championships, on Tuesday.
The Indian wild card had three match points in the 12th game of the second set but could convert none and went on to lose seven games on the trot to bow out of the ATP 500 event.
He lost 6-2 6-7(2) 0-6 in one-hour and 51 minute contest.
Yuki, ranked 107, had made a resounding start by taking the first from the Czech inside 20 minutes and was leading 2-0 in the second but allowed his rival to comeback.
After losing those match points, Yuki could never recover. He trailed 0-5 in the tie break before losing the set and was outplayed in the decider.
Yuki had lost to Rosol in India's Davis Cup tie against Czech Republic and had a good chance to not only avenge his defeat but also gain some valuable points to better his rankings.
Later, Mahesh Bhupathi, who had entered the doubles event with Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi as wild card, also suffered a first round exit.
The Indo-Pak pair lost 4-6, 2-6 to Italian team of Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi in one hour and eight minutes.
Image: India's Yuki Bhambri
