(Image source from: Somdev Devvarman ousts defending champion Alexandr Dolgopolov})

Qualifier Somdev Devvarman quashed defending champion Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) out of  WTA Washington Open on Tuesday evening.

With this, world number 129 Devvarman advanced to the sixteenth round where he would play against US eighth seed John Isner on Thursday.

"I'm very happy. That guy is a tough player, no question," Devvarman said. "I played really well in the beginning. He gave me a couple errors to break him. He fought back in the second set. I was serving well. It kept me in the match. I gave myself looks on his serve. It was just confidence."

Devvarman, who has shifted base to Charlottesville and has been training there for some time, has got acclimatized to the heat there.

Says he, "It's such an advantage to be here to prepare for one of my favorite tournaments.”

Devvarman, who was recently in India to work with a Chennai-based charity called "Life is a Ball," feels quite “on top of his game”.

"I'm pretty sharp," he said. "Physically for sure."

AW: Suchorita Dutta