By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Cramps and a controversial over-rule ended the incredible run of India’s Saketh Myneni Monday at the 2016 U.S. Open.
The 28-year-old former four-year teaching professional at Burning Tree Country Club in nearby Greenwich, Conn., was defeated by Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in 3 hours, 47 minutes after leading 5-2 in the final set and having a double-fault from Vesely on match point overruled.
Myneni, nick-named “Saki,” first called for the trainer to help him with cramps in his right leg when leading 4-2 in the final set, held serve to take a 5-2 lead. He faced match point in the next game and Vesely hit his serve out, apparently, but was overruled by the chair umpire. Cramps then started to take its toll on the former University of Alabama standout and he was unable to serve out the match at 5-3, despite spirited cheering from about 100 members of the Burning Tree Country Club, who he used to teach.
Myneni’s spoke after the match as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPOSDEqlOJE
It marked the first main draw singles match at a Grand Slam tournament for Myneni, who reached the 128-player field with three wins in the qualifying rounds. He was the first player from India to compete in the U.S. Open main draw since Somdev Devvarman in 2013.
In the final round of the qualifying rounds on Friday, Myneni defeated Pedja Krstin of Serbia, calling the achievement “ amazing” as seen in this full post-match interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvV0h-dFBew
Myneni was not a highly recruited player at the University of Alabama, gaining acceptance more for his academics than his tennis aptitude. His perceived shyness almost did not land him the teaching job at Burning Tree, as Burning Tree Director of Racquet Sports Jack Waite explained in this story here:
Myneni, 28, is ranked No. 143 in the ATP World Tour rankings and has been a member of India’s Davis Cup team since 2014.
He lost in qualifying in all three previous majors this year, including by a painful 3-6, 6-4, 8-6 margin to Bosnia’s Mirza Basic in the final round of a qualifying at the Australian Open.
Randy Walker is the author of the book, ebook, audio book and mobile app “This Day In Tennis History” (www.TennisHistoryApp.com) and can be reached at Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com