Vishnu keeps Indian hopes alive in ITF Futures

New Delhi: Top seed and local favourite Vishnu Vardhan kept the Indian interest alive in the singles event of the USD 10,000 ITF Futures event by reaching the semifinals, even as his other two compatriots crashed out of the tournament. Vishnu eased into the last-four stage with a facile 6-3, 6-2 win over compatriot and seventh seed Rupesh Roy in the quarterfinals at DLTA complex. He will next face Dutch fifth seed Peter Lucassen, who was leading his quarterfinal match against N Vijay Sundar Prashant 7-6(3) 2-0 when the Indian retired.National champion Ranjeet Virali Murugesan made a meek surrender before second seed Kim Jun-Young of Korea 0-6, 2-6 in another last eight encounter. Vishnu is in line for a double delight as he and his partner Ashutosh Singh also reached the summit clash of the doubles event after beating Rupesh and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals. They will take on third seed British pair of Chris Eaton and Sean Thornley, who beat the second seeded Indian pair of Rohan Gajjar and Vivek Shokeen 6-4, 6-2. Bureau Report