Indian qualifier Somdev Devvarman required five sets in eight hours between rain interruption and a determined rival. However, he reached the 2nd round of the US Open on Wednesday with a much late performance.
Notably, the 28-year-old former US college star hammered Lukas Lacko of Slovakia by 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 within three hours and 11 minutes of match time. Although rain interrupted the match for more than four hours, still he won the third set.
Devvarman remarked Bummer for him, momentum switch. He added that one has to pull their pants up and deal with it. Just the beast’s nature.
Actually, Devvarman made 36 unforced errors, which is fewer than half of Lacko's 73 such mistakes and hung tough at the finish.
Devvarman commented that when one is playing in the fifth set, much of it is one play with adrenaline at that point. He knows that both of them were dying at the end. He was quite antsy and his rival was too. The nervous energy affected both of them. They were just attempting to do their best.
In fact, Devvarman had battled back to secure the 3rd set when showers started to fall, pushing him into the locker room. Following a mock of returning quicker, more rainfall left him to stay back and the marathon wait continued.
Devvarman revealed that he got two quarters of a meal at different times. He just took a shower, ate and tried to relax. He was there with a group of friends playing games and the time passes very quickly.
He highlighted that stopping and starting, it was a bit unlucky to halt there. One cannot control the weather. However, it changed the momentum. He emerged and played well, modified his tactics. Of course, he played a great fourth and fifth sets.
Devvarman came through with a break at 4-4 in the final set and held to fix a second-round date with 20th seed Andreas Seppi of Italy.
Devvarman expressed that he is very happy with the way he played. Truly, it was an incredibly tough match. He had played a few great scramble points there in the fifth set at 4-4. He is happy with that last speck of effort out there. He opined that having to fight through three qualifying matches has been an advantage.
Devvarman believed that less time on the court is better but one do what one can to take advantage of what one has. He added that he is familiar with the speed of the courts. He has played numerous matches. He is match sharp. He hopes he can take advantage of that in the subsequent match. The only way he can improve is to fight through every match and he feels like he has done that.
