Prakash one step away from entering Wimbledon main draw

London: Prakash Amritraj inched closer to his only second singles Grand Slam appearance after a spirited three-set win over Australia's Marinko Matosevic in the Wimbledon qualifying event here.

The US-based Indian beat Matosevic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.

Amritraj now will fight it out with Australia's teen sensation Bernard Tomic in the third and final round.

Amritraj had made his Grand Slam debut in 2002 when he played US Open main draw as a wild card. Ever since he has never entered the singles main draw of any of the tennis Major.

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If Amritraj manages to beat the supremely talented Tomic he will become first Indian in a decade to play in the Wimbledon singles main draw.

Mahesh Bhupathi was the last Indian to play in the singles event of the grass court Grand Slam in 2000 when he lost his first round to Frenchman Stephane Huet.

A year before Leander Paes also played in the singles main draw at Wimbledon and lost in straight sets to Brazilian Andre Sa.

Meanwhile, Somdev Devvarman, who has crashed out of singles qualifiers, is still in hunt for doubles main draw as he and his Filipino partner Treat Conrad Huey beat seventh seeds Prakash and Swiss Yves Allegro 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2 in the first round.

They will now take on top seeds Tomasz Bednarek and Matensz Kowalczylz for a place in the main draw.