Somdev makes confident start at Washington qualifiers

Washington :

Somdev Devvarman is one step away from making the singles main draw of the ATP Legg Mason Tennis Classic after brushing aside Denis Kudla in the first round of the qualifiers.

The fifth seed Indian beat the local wild card 6-1 6-1 in the first round of the qualifying event.

Somdev would fancy his chances entering the main draw as he has beaten his next opponent -- American 10th seed Kevin Kim -- twice in the past.

Somdev had defeated Kim at Newport event this year and at Chennai Open last year.

If Somdev manages to beat Kim for the third time in a row, he will be second Indian competing in the USD 1,165,500 hard court event.

Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna is competing the doubles main draw along with Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.

They will open their campaign against Czech-Austrian combination of Martin Damm and Oliver Marach.