Pannu and Reynolds to play for main draw ASB Classic wildcard

Kiranpal Pannu will face Finn Reynolds tomorrow for a place in the main draw at Auckland’s ASB men’s Classic.

Pannu and Reynolds have both won enthralling three sets matches to reach the final of the New Zealand men’s wildcard playoff in Auckland.

Pannu who is fresh from winning his first ITF World Tour event title in Papamoa prior to Christmas, struggled early on against 18-year-old Jack Loutit before winning 5-7, 6-2, 6- 4. Pannu trailed 5-2 before a 30-minute rain delay but came out more aggressive after the break and won the next three games to levels at 5-5. Momentum changed again though and Loutit steadied and took the opening set before Pannu gradually wore him down. It was a tight deciding set with the break coming in the 9^th game before Pannu served out the match.

Reynolds defeated Isaac Becroft 6-3,1-6,6-3 in a roller coaster encounter. The Hawke’s Bay product adjusted quickly to the blustery conditions and won the first set before a 30-minute rain delay. After the resumption an aggressive Becroft dominated and romped through the second set before surging to a 3-1 lead in the decider. But Reynolds dug deep and broke back before surviving a tense lengthy service game to level and then he powered through the remainder of the match.

The winner of tomorrow’s final will secure a main draw wildcard into the ASB men’s Classic which starts on Monday while the runner up will get a qualifying wildcard.