Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh unleashed a serving masterclass to storm into the second round of the Bengaluru Open ATP 125 Challenger on Tuesday. The 25-year-old from Tamil Nadu, ranked 521 in the world, fired an impressive 20 aces to defeat Croatia's Duje Ajdukovic (ranked 329) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, at the SM Krishna tennis stadium.
A Serve Forged Through Discipline
Standing tall at 6 feet 5 inches, Suresh's most potent weapon is his booming serve, a skill honed through relentless practice. An undergraduate student at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, USA, he dedicates himself to 50-100 service drills daily. This discipline was on full display against Ajdukovic, as his first serve dominated the hour-long contest. Suresh won a staggering 34 out of 38 points on his first serve, including a sequence of three consecutive aces in the sixth game.
"It was a good day and my serve doesn't get any better than that," a pleased Suresh said after the match. He emphasized the importance of his serve, stating, "The serve is one of the biggest aspects of my game. I need to keep my shoulder healthy too, because it is a lot of serves every day."
Dominant Performance and Next Challenge
The Croatian opponent, broken in the very first game, had no answer to Suresh's firepower in a match notably devoid of long rallies. While Ajdukovic applied pressure from the baseline, Suresh's serve remained unshakeable. After securing a break in the fifth game of the second set, Suresh sealed the victory comfortably. The match ended with Ajdukovic offering a wry smile and applauding after being aced twice in the tenth game.
Suresh credited his recent experience at the World Tennis League (WTL) held in Bengaluru for his adaptability. "I was here for the WTL so I knew the conditions and how to play. That played a big role in my win today," he explained. "I love playing in Bengaluru as it is high-altitude and the ball pops off the string. So it gives me an advantage during my service games."
He will now face 19-year-old Frenchman Felix Balshaw in the second round on Wednesday. A potential blockbuster quarterfinal clash against India's top-ranked player Sumit Nagal awaits if both advance.
Mixed Day for Indian Contingent
While Suresh celebrated, it was a day of exits for the other two Indians in the singles draw. Karan Singh (ranked 466) was defeated 6-2, 6-4 by Croatia's Borna Gojo (ranked 293), who hammered 13 aces. Similarly, Aryan Shah (ranked 398) fell 6-1, 6-2 to Kazakhstan's Beibit Zhukayev (ranked 277), who served 11 aces. The day underscored the advantage of big servers on the Bengaluru courts.
