CHANDIGARH: Ramkumar Ramanathan easily sailed against Duje Ajdukovic of Croatia with a straight set win 6-2 6-4 in the Round 16 of the $ 52, 080 Bahrain Ministry of Interior Tennis Challenger in Manama (Bahrain).
In the 76 minutes battle Ramkumar Ramanathan converted four of five breakpoints and saved seven of eight breakpoints. His opponent converted one out of 13 breakpoints and saved one out of five breakpoints.
Ramkumar released eight aces and committed five double faults. Duje Ajdukovic served four aces and committed three double faults.
In the quarter-final Ramkumar will face giant-killer Goncalo Oliveir of Portugal who struggled to get the better of Antoine Escoffer of France by 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4.
Third seeded Indian pair of N.Sriram Balaji and Divij Sharan stormed into the doubles semi-final against Yu Hsiou Hsu of Taipei and Khumoyun Sultanov of Uzbekistan 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the quarter-final.
Their opponents in the semi-final will be Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabal of Portugal.
Another Indian pair of Arun Kadhe and Ramkunmar Ramanathn also took their appointed place in the doubles semi-final as they ended the challenge of Alexander Cozbinov and Marek Gengel of Czech Republic in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
Arjun and Ramkumar will meet Maximilan Neuchrist of Portugal and Michail Pervolarakis of Cyprus.