Chennai: Yuki Bhambri became only the third Indian to reach the singles quarterfinals of an ATP World Tour event at home, after winning his second round against an unfit world number 16 Fabio Fognini, on Thursday.
It was the biggest win of Yuki's career when the formidable Italian, who struggled due to an injured left leg, conceded the match after trailing 1-6, 5-5.
Fognini had earlier pulled out of the doubles event for which he was supposed to partner India's veteran star Leander Paes. The duo were seeded second.
Yuki, ranked 195, is only the third Indian after Somdev Devvarman and Leander Paes to make the singles quarterfinals of this event in Chennai.
Somdev had ended runner-up in the 2009 edition. Paes had reached the semifinal in 1998 when the event was known as Gold Flake Open. Paes had lost to eventual champion Patrick Rafter from Australia.
