New Delhi, Aug 25 - Yuki Bhambri shrugged off a slow start against Briton Tim Bradshaw and won his first round match in the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF), 7-5, 6-4, at the DLTA complex here Tuesday.

Yuki, who returned home last week after bowing out of a Challenger qualifiers in Uzbekistan, looked rusty and uncharacteristically committed unforced errors. The 17-year-old junior Australian champion gained an early break in the first set but squandered the advantage in the seventh game when the Bradshaw hit a powerful forehand crosscourt. Yuki then frittered away three break points in the next game.

The Delhi boy, however, soon regained his touch to break Bradshaw in the eighth game, when the latter hit a forehand long, before serving out the set.

Yuki carried the momentum into the second set, breaking Bradshaw early before closing the set and the match. He next plays American Shane La Porte.

In a rain delayed start, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan put up a spirited display before collapsing on the court with cramps and retiring at 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-6 against compatriot Rupesh Roy. This is the second time in two weeks that Nedunchezhiyan had to retire mid-way a match.