Yuki, Jeevan advance in Chennai Open qualifiers

India's Yuki Bhambri and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan cleared the first hurdle in the qualifying event of the ATP Chennai Open, scoring easy wins over their compatriots in Chennai.

Bhambri outplayed Siddharth Rawat 6-1, 6-3 in his first round qualifying match of the $250,000 hard court event while left-handed Nedunchezhiyan defated Lakshit Sood 6-2, 6-2.

Among other Indians reaching the second round were Vinayak Kaza, who rallied to beat Thai player Danai Udomchoke 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and Sasi Mukund, who got the better of wild card Fahad Mohammed 6-3 6-4.

National hard court champion Vishnu Vardhan and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth also moved to the second round. Vardhan defeated Suraj Prabodh 6-1 6-3 while Prashanth advanced when Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha retired mid-way through the contest. Prashanth was leading 6-1, 5-2 when Poonacha retired.