In a stunning display of youthful exuberance, two Indian teenagers have lit up the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger Tour event, defeating higher-ranked opponents to secure their spots in the quarterfinals. Wildcard entrants Manas Dhamne (World No. 556) and Dhakshineswar Suresh (World No. 521) scripted memorable victories on Wednesday at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, providing the home fans with plenty to cheer about.
Dhamne's Giant-Killing Run Continues
Eighteen-year-old Manas Dhamne is rapidly becoming the story of the tournament. After ousting fifth seed Matej Dodig in the first round, the Pune youngster backed it up with another commanding performance. He defeated Kazakhstan's Beibit Zhukayev (World No. 277) in a three-set battle that lasted one hour and 52 minutes, with a scoreline of 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Facing the 6'6" Zhukayev, known for his powerful serve, Dhamne executed a smart game plan. He positioned himself deep behind the baseline to effectively return the Kazakh's big serves. This strategy worked wonders as Dhamne broke serve in the fifth and seventh games to comfortably take the first set in just 32 minutes.
Although Zhukayev fought back strongly in the second set, Dhamne regained control in the decider. A crucial hold of serve in the third game, sealed with an ace, gave him momentum. He then capitalised on unforced errors from his opponent to secure a decisive break in the sixth game, eventually closing out the match with a confident backhand winner.
"Winning back-to-back matches at a Challenger feels great. I'm already thinking about my next match," said an elated Dhamne after reaching his maiden ATP Challenger quarterfinal. He will next face France's Matteo Martineau (World No. 319).
Suresh Edges Past Balshaw in Thriller
Joining Dhamne in the last eight is fellow wildcard Dhakshineswar Suresh. The big-serving Indian overcame a tough challenge from 19-year-old Frenchman Felix Balshaw (World No. 718) in a marathon encounter lasting two hours and one minute. The final score read 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4).
Despite playing with both knees taped, Suresh showcased a versatile game, mixing sharp volleys with deep groundstrokes. After trading sets, the third set went down to the wire with both players holding serve relentlessly. The match eventually moved to a tie-break, where Suresh raised his level at the crucial juncture. He raced to a 6-3 lead with an ace and sealed a famous victory with an overhead smash.
Nagal's Heartbreaking Exit
The day, however, ended in bitter disappointment for India's top-ranked player, Sumit Nagal (World No. 275). In a pulsating contest that stretched for three hours and nine minutes, Nagal fell agonisingly short against second seed Harold Mayot of France. The final score was 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-7(11).
The match turned into an epic drama in the deciding set tie-break. Nagal, visibly exhausted, squandered seven match points in a dramatic collapse. The turning point came when he missed a relatively easy volley, handing Mayot a fifth match point. The 23-year-old Frenchman made no mistake, sealing the win with a powerful ace.
A frustrated Nagal hurled his racket in despair before walking off the court. Mayot will now face Dhakshineswar Suresh in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Other Key Results
The day's other results saw top seed Pedro Martinez of Spain advance, along with wins for Cedrik-Marcel Stebe and Timofey Skatov. The quarterfinal lineup promises more exciting tennis action at the Bengaluru Open.
Select Results:
- 2-Harold Mayot (Fra) bt Sumit Nagal (Ind) 7-6(2), 6-1, 7-6(11)
- Dhakshineswar Suresh (Ind) bt Felix Balshaw (Fra) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4)
- Manas Dhamne (Ind) bt Beibit Zhukayev (Kaz) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
- 1-Pedro Martinez (Esp) bt Michael Geerts (Bel) 7-6(3), 6-3
