Somdev in quarters of Bangkok Open but Balaji ousted

 Second seed Somdev Devvarman reached the singles quarterfinals of the ATP Bangkok <g data-gr-id="12">Open</g> but N Sriram Balaji bowed after a three-set defeat, here on Wednesday.

Somdev progressed after Australian qualifier Andrew Whittington retired mid-way in the second round contest due to heat stroke.

Somdev was leading 7-5 4-2 when the Australian threw in the towel. Balaji on the other <g data-gr-id="13">hand,</g> put up a valiant fight before losing 7-6(4) 2-6 3-6 to Benjamin Mitchell in the second round of the USD 50,000 ATP Challenger hard court event. Mitchell had also knocked out top seed Tatsuma Ito from Japan in the opening round.