Somdev out of singles, doubles competitions in Singapore ATP

Top seed Somdev was stunned 3-6 4-6 by 177th ranked Andrej Martin of Slovakia in a singles quarterfinal match that lasted one hour and 25 minutes at the Kallang tennis centre here.

He and his South African partner Rik de Voest were then beaten 4-6 7-6 7-10 in the doubles semifinals by second seeded Thai pair of Ratiwattana Twins Sonchai and Sonchat.
In the singles quarterfinal match against little known Martin, Somdev started well breaking his opponent in the third game but lost serve in the next.

Martin managed to break Somdev in the eighth game and then held on to take the set.
In the second set, Martin played some intelligent tennis mixing drops, passing Somdev regularly at the nets with sharp angled returns.

The Slovakian managed to break Somdev in the fifth game and then held on to his serve to clinch the second set and make it to the semifinals.

Somdev could just manage to win a low 38 per cent points on service returns in the entire match.

"I don't want to take anything away from Andrej. He played very well and served well. I didn't move well which is my strength, it's hard to play with rains around. But all this is a part of professional tennis and it's a learning process for me, but all credit to my opponent," said Somdev after the match.

Somdev got 17 ATP points for his efforts in singles and 33 ATP points from the doubles event. He will now move to South Africa to play in the South African Open.