Somdev Devvarman

Full name is Somdev Kishore Devvarman...Grew up near Chennai before attending University of Virginia from 2005-08...Earned a sociology degree in May 2008 and turned pro that summer...Captured NCAA singles title in back-to-back seasons in 2007 (d. Georgia's John Isner) and 2008 (d. Tennessee's J.P. Smith) and All-American honours both times...Enjoys music of Dave Matthews band and plays music himself...Member of India's Davis Cup team...In October 2010, he won the singles gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi with a 64 62 win over Australian Greg Jones...In November 2010, he became the first player since Japan's Toshiro Sakai to win singles and doubles gold medals at the Asian Games...Beat Denis Istomin 61 62 in singles final and partnered Sanam Singh to the doubles title...In February 2011, he was named Sports Person of the Year with cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in the Sports Illustrated India Annual Awards in Bangalore...On 20 September 2011, he was presented the Arjuna Award by Indian sports minister Ajay Maken...He is the first tennis played to be honoured since WTA star Sania Mirza in 2004.

Devvarman DEUCE Feature (Aug. 2011)

2011 -- The top Indian won a personal-best 20 matches and finished in Top 100 for 1st time, highlighted by reaching his 2nd career ATP World Tour final in Johannesburg (l. to Anderson) in February…Also QF in Belgrade (l. to Tipsarevic) in May and Atlanta (l. to Fish) in July...Went 0-5 vs. Top 10 opponents and highest-ranked win came over No. 22 Baghdatis in 1R at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells in March…Compiled marks of 15-17 on hard, 3-4 on clay and 2-3 on grass and earned a career-high $387,366...

2010 -- The top Indian finished just outside Top 100 at a year-end best No. 108…Broke into Top 100 for first time in August at No. 96 and was there for 10 weeks before slipping out in November…Compiled an 8-14 match record in tour level play and 12-8 in Challengers with one title…In February, advanced to QF in Johannesburg (l. to Ferrer) and followed by qualifying into main draw in Dubai (l. to Baghdatis)…In March, played in 1st RD Davis Cup tie in Russia and lost both matches to Kunitsyn and Youzhny…Following month, qualified in Houston and reached 2nd RD (l. to Hewitt in three sets)…Also qualified for first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and lost to Chiudinelli in five sets in 1st RD…In July, lost in 2nd RD in Newport (l. to eventual champ Fish) and followed with SF at Aptos Challenger…Returned to ATP play in Los Angeles and reached 2nd RD (l. to Tipsarevic)…In August, qualified in back-to-back weeks at Toronto* (l. to Monfils) and Cincinnati* (l. to Ginepri)…After a 1st RD loss at US Open, helped his country get back into Davis Cup World Group for 2011 by defeating top Brazilian Bellucci who retired in fourth rubber due to injury…Then captured Izmir Challenger title in Turkey (d. Ilhan)… Took singles gold at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and continued strong season ending push with singles and doubles gold medals at Asian Games in Guangzhou (d. Istomin, doubles w/ Samam Singh)…First player to win gold in singles and doubles in the same year since ‘74…Earned a career-high $189,381...

2009 -- Advanced to maiden ATP World Tour final in his hometown of Chennai…Reached 3R in Washington, defeating No. 15 Cilic (l. to Karlovic)…Qualified in his 1st Grand Slam event at US Open (D. Gil, l. to Kohlschreiber)…In Davis Cup World Group playoff tie in South Africa, won both of his singles matches (d. van der Merwe and De Voest in 5 sets) to lead his country in ‘10 World Group...

2008 -- Reached his 1st ATP World Tour QF in Washington (l. to Kunitsyn) and won 1st Challenger title in Lexington (d. Kendrick) as a qualifier...