Bengaluru, Feb 8 (IANS): The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) has handed a wild card to talented Prjawal Dev in the singles main draw of the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger 80 Series Tennis Tournament.

The 27-year-old Dev was also named a reserve in the Indian Davis Cup team for the tie against Pakistan.

Dev had a decent 2023 season in which he ended a runner-up at the ITF 15k event in Thailand and also reached the semifinals in three other tournaments, including Mysuru.

"I would like to thank KSLTA for the wonderful opportunity to play in the main draw. I am privileged to receive the wild card and I am looking forward to the tournament. Hopefully, I can do well. I am coming off a good week in Chennai and hopefully, I continue with that," said Prajwal Dev, currently ranked 611.

"Expectation is there and I am hopeful I will live up to that," he said.

Having the Davis Cuppers in action, the KSLTA will soon announce more main draw wild cards for the tournament which will conclude on February 18.

"Prajwal has the potential to break into the Top 500 soon and we want to give him an opportunity to achieve the feat at the earliest. He is a very talented player, and support at the right time is what a player needs. Our endeavour is to support local talent," said Sunil Yajaman, Tournament Director.

"We are delighted to give this opportunity to Prajwal. Hopefully, he will make full use of it," Yajaman further added.