Somdev fails to qualify for Aus Open main draw

Indian ace loses in second round of qualifying to Poland's Lukasz Kubot of Poland

Somdev Devvarman's hopes of entering the singles main draw in Australian Open went up in smoke after the lanky Indian lost his second round qualifying match to Lukasz Kubot of Poland here today. Seeded 28th, Somdev began in the right earnest to go one up before his opponent staged a brilliant comeback to pip him 4-6,6-4,7-5 after nearly three hours of marathon fight. Fresh from his runners-up finish in the Chennai Open, world number 154 Somdev converted both the break points and defended one as well to wrap up the first set in 37 minutes. The 207th ranked Kubot turned the table in the second set, breaking Somdev once and holding his serve to draw parity. In the marathon see-saw decider too, Kubot prevailed, converting three berak points as against Somdev's two.

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