New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) The Indian challenge at the $50,000 SAIL Open ATP challenger came to an end Wednesday when the lone Indian in fray Ashutosh Singh lost to Australian Colin Ebelthite 4-6,4-6 on a day when rain and duststorm halted the match for more than three hours at the DLTA complex here. Wild card holder Ashutosh, who came up with a fighting performance against the eighth- seed Russian Alexandre Kudryavtsev Tuesday, couldn’t keep up the good show against Ebelthite, handing him an easy straight sets victory in the second round.

Ashutosh didn’t play anywhere near his previous day’s showing and he struggled with his forehand in particular. Ebelthite was quick to seize the opportunity. The Australian hustled the former national champion, charging the net at the first available opportunity. At the same time he also made the Indian run around the court varying his length and pace of his shots.

Though no breaks came till the sixth game, Ashutosh had to work hard to hold his serve before Ebelthite finally broke him in the seventh game. That was enough for him to take the first set.

A duststorm accompanied by rain stopped play in the second set, but when it resumed, Ebelthite wasted no time in packing the Indian off after breaking him in the ninth game.