JOIN USSecond-seeded Vishnu beat fifth-seeded Divij Sharan 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a rain interrupted first semifinal match at the DLTA complex.
It was Vishnu’s third consecutive win over Sharan, who Thursday took out last week’s winner Yuki Bhambri in a three-setter in the quarterfinal. The Delhi left-hander looked well on course for another upset when he broke Vishnu in the ninth game of the match to serve out the first set.
But Vishnu came back with resolve in the second set. Serving big and hitting power-packed groundstrokes, he swiftly took a 4-1 lead, breaking Sharan early in the second game. Sharan had three break points in the seventh game, but Vishnu fought back brilliantly to hold on. He then closed the set in the ninth game with an ace.
In the decider, Vishnu, a semifinalist last week, served strong while Sharan lapsed into a rash of errors. Sharan could not hold his serve even once. The only game he won was by breaking the 21-year-old Vishnu.
Later in the day, Gajjar overcame a fighting Takeuchi to enter his second final in as many weeks.