Prakash Amritraj failed to capitalise on an early lead and lost to Jan Masik of the Czech Republic 5-7, 1-6 in the second round of the US $25,000 Cafe Cup ATP Challenger tournament in Chikmaglur on Wednesday.
The Indian Davis Cupper, seeded sixth, started off on a positive note at the Centenary Stadium courts, breaking his opponent in the third game to go up 2-1, but thereafter he appeared to lose momentum.
Unseeded Masik broke the Indian in the tenth game to level the score at 5-5 and then tightened his grip over the match as he raised the level of his game.
Amritraj's repeated attempts to stage a comeback in the second set proved futile. Masik, who had beaten his opponent at the recent Abu Dhabi tournament, raced to a 5-0 lead and by the time the Indian regained his touch, it was too late.
Masik advanced to the quarterfinals, where he was joined by second seeded Danai Udomchoke of Thailand.
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