Somdev, winner of back-to-back US colleges titles, said there was no feeling of avenging a defeat. Cilic is a great player, ranked 15 in the world, and he competed like he did with any other player.

'No hard feelings. He's a great guy. We were just two competitors.'

Recalling his loss at the hometurf in Chennai, Somdev said: 'I did a lot of things well in that match. But he did better.'

'It wasn't the final of a tour event. I wasn't nervous coming out. It was his first match of the week. I had three already under my belt.'

Somdev will next face 33rd-ranked Croatian super server Ivo Karlovic or Germany's Rainer Schuettler in the $1.4 million hardcourt event. Somdev defeated Karlovic on his way to the Chennai Open final.

If Somdev beats Karlovic, he might run into top seed Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals.