Prajnesh Gunneswaran draws academy-mate Michael Mmoh in Tata Open | Tennis News

PUNE: Prajnesh Gunneswaran couldn’t have got a better first-round pairing. The in-form India No. 1 will take on his training partner, 20-year-old Michael Mmoh of the US, in his opening match of the $589,000 Tata Open Maharashtra, starting here on Monday.

But, instead of mumbling the inane, the World No. 107 from Chennai offered a ruthless assessment of his chances in the ATP 250 Series event at the MSLTA courts in Mhalunge-Balewadi.

“I am going to face someone who trains with me at the same academy (Alexander Waske University in Germany). I am going to do everything in my power to send him home quickly,” the southpaw said after the draw ceremony. Should the result stay true to his prediction, he would meet either Steve Darcis, the former No. 38 from Belgium, who is returning to action after a lengthy injury layoff, or sixth seed Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round.

Mukund falls in qualifying R1

Sasi Kumar Mukund (ranked 336) fell in the opening round of qualifying while Saketh Myneni (259) advanced to the second round. Mukund was overwhelmed 6-1, 6-1 by Italian Gialuigi Quinzi. Myneni overcame Chinese Taipei’s Jason Jung 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.