Balaji and Jayaprakash stayed close in the first set with the no breaks and the tiebreak deciding the outcome. The second was closely contested too with both players serving big and surviving the heat. The two exchanged an early break of serve before Jayaprakash tried to up the ante on Balaji’s serve at 4-4. The spectacle clad Tamil Nadu player tried to be aggressive with his returns and hit a glorious half-volley forehand winner to create break opportunities. On one, he nearly converted but for Balaji’s smart volleys at the net which had Jayaprakash mumbling “So bad, so bad” before Balaji held serve. In the next game, Jayaprakash’s energy sapped while errors rose with a forehand hitting the top of the net to give his opponent the match.
