SOMDEV DEVVARMAN, India’s highest ranked Tennis player has defeated the unseeded player from Slovakia, Karol Beck in the first round of St. Petersburg Open, which is presently going on in Russia. He won the match in a comfortable fashion as the score read 6-2, 6-3 at Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

 He would consider this win to be an important one as he has not been able to come up with good performances in his previous outing at various tournaments. He has not been able to clear the first hurdle in his recent tournaments. The Indian put up an impressive display of tennis, as he played some great shots to put the Slovakian player in his backfoot. The match just lasted for an hour and 8 minutes.

Though, he had an easy outing against the Slovakian player, he must play out of his skin if he wants to progress further in the competition. He is scheduled to face Marin Cilic in the second round of the competition, who has been playing consistently well. The fourth seeded player got the better of Sergei Bubka of Ukraine in the first round of the tournament; hence the Croatian number 1 is pitted against Indian number 1. 

Somdev would definitely be the underdog going into the match, but he has got nothing to lose as Cilic is said to be the favourite to win the match. Hence, the Indian can play without any pressure, which may get the better out of the Indian, who always gives his best, irrespective of the player he is playing. He is not afraid to play aggressive tennis against bigger players too, which may put him in good stead during the game. It could be a perfect Diwali gift for his fans, if he manages to upset the big Croat player.