New Delhi, Sep 4 - Indian challenge at the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament was over with the loss of Ashutosh Singh and Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan in the semi-finals at the DLTA complex here Friday.
Ashutosh, a former national champion, threw away the match from the brink of victory against sixth-seeded Japanese Kento Takeuchi 6-1 4-6, 3-6 while Ranjeet was dispatched for the third time in the three successive weeks by experienced South Korean second seed Young-Jun Kim, who won 6-2, 6-2.
There was disappointment for Ashutosh in the doubles final as well when he and partner compatriot Vishnu Vardhan lost to Britain's Chris Eaton and India's Rohan Gajjar 6(6)-7, 6(3)-7.
Ashutosh lost to an out of sorts Takeuchi, who struggled to find his rhythm and made a stream of unforced errors.