Devvarman Posts First Career Top 20 Win

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WASHINGTON — Former Cavalier All-American Somdev Devvarman recorded the biggest win of his professional career on Tuesday, upsetting world No. 15 Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. The victory was the first over a top-20 opponent of Devvarman’s career.

Devvarman, currently ranked No. 153, made the main draw of the tournament after winning a pair of qualifying matches. On Monday, he topped Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-0, 7-6(6) in the first round before the defeating Cilic, who has won two events on tour this season. One of those titles came in January, when Cilic defeated Devvarman in the final of the Chennai Open as the former Cavalier made his first ATP Tour final in his hometown.

The tournament marks the second consecutive year that Devvarman has had a strong showing at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Last year he advanced from qualifying to the main draw, where he topped Taylor Dent and Robert Kendrick to reach his first ATP Tour quarterfinal.

Devvarman returns to action in Washington on Thursday, as he will play either Ivo Karlovic of Croatia (world No. 25) or Rainier Schuettler of Germany (world No. 92) in the round of 16.