For the first time in his pro career, Somdev Devvarman, the best player to grace the courts for UVA and two-time NCAA singles champion, has made the semifinals of an ATP Tour tournament, the Chennai Open.
“This win means a lot to me, and I hope it means a lot for Indian tennis too,” Devvarman, ranked a mere 202 in the world, told The Sydney Morning Herald. Yesterday, he knocked off former world No. 1 Carlos Moya 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, and today he vanquished world No. 25 Ivo Karlovic in straight sets.
Devvarman grew up in Chennai before coming to the states for college, and his success has inspired “massive crowd following” and a flurry of Indian press.
Reporters aren’t just flocking to Devvarman, however; Somdev-mania has inspired at least one article on his mother, who brings a “dignified presence” to Indian tennis.
Tomorrow, Devvarman faces Rainer Schuettler, a German who is ranked No. 33.
