Pune, Feb. 24 -- India's top-ranked tennis star Sumit Nagal delivered a commanding performance while local teenager and the country's rising youngster Manas Dhamne showcased nerves of steel to spearhead the Indian charge in the Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 Men's Tennis Championship at the Balewadi Stadium on Tuesday, according to a release.

Nagal thrilled a lively home crowd with a clinical 6-1, 6-2 victory over seventh seed Rio Noguchi of Japan, securing victory in an hour and 9 minutes, dictating play from the baseline and sealing the contest in straight sets. The Indian No.1 looked sharp in all departments, breaking serve consistently to advance comfortably into the second round.

Local boy Dhamne, who secured a place in the main draw ...