Indian tennis stars had a mixed day at the 10th Bengaluru Open as Dhakshineswar Suresh and Manas Dhamne advanced to the Quarter-Finals with hard-fought three-set victories, while former champion Sumit Nagal exited after a gruelling battle against second seed Harold Mayot.
Sumit Nagal’s Exit
Mayot saved seven match points in a demanding three-set clash to defeat Sumit Nagal 7-6(2), 6-1, 7-6(11). The match, defined by momentum swings and physical endurance, saw Mayot break early in the opening set. Nagal, however, responded with trademark resolve, breaking back just two games later to force a tie-break. In the crucial moments, Mayot elevated his game, applying sustained pressure to take the opener.
Shifting tactics in the second set, Nagal frequently approached the net to disrupt Mayot’s rhythm, breaking him early and moving through the set with confidence. The third set transformed into a war of attrition, with Nagal producing spectacular returns that pushed Mayot to his limits. As both players fought to stay even, another tie-break emerged, where Nagal’s powerful forehand earned him an early lead. However, fatigue set in late in the match, allowing Mayot’s solid defence and composure under pressure to clinch the contest in three hours and nine minutes.
Suresh and Dhamne Shine
Earlier in the day, Suresh battled past 19-year-old Felix Balshaw in a dramatic three-set encounter, winning 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4). The 25-year-old secured the opening set with his big serves and solid baseline play. Balshaw hit back strongly in the second set, showcasing his one-handed backhand and serve while capitalising on Suresh’s dip in energy.
The decider unfolded as a tense, neck-and-neck affair. After conceding a late break, Suresh demonstrated remarkable resilience, striking deep returns to break back and force a tie-break. In the tie-breaker, Suresh’s grit shone through as he absorbed early pressure before pinning Balshaw into the corners to seal the win.
18-year-old wildcard Dhamne also provided plenty of cheer for the home fans, producing a steady performance to overcome Kazakhstan’s Beibit Zhukayev 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. The Indian teen set the tone early with sharp movement and anticipation, allowing him to neutralise Zhukayev’s power and take the first set comfortably.
Zhukayev responded in the second as his big serve found its range, swinging momentum in his favour. However, as the match progressed, Dhamne better read the patterns, and by the third set, Zhukayev struggled for answers. The Indian maintained constant pressure from the back of the court, moving ahead with consistency and control to secure a deserving victory.
Other Matches
Top seed Pedro Martinez, Kazakhstan’s Timofey Skatov, Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, Czechia’s Jonas Forejtek, and Frenchman Matteo Martineau also advanced to the Singles Quarter-Finals.
Meanwhile, Indian pair SD Prajwal Dev and Nitin Kumar Sinha progressed to the last eight in the doubles draw along with top seeds Sriram Balaji of India and Neil Oberleitner of Austria, the Dutch duo of Max Houkes and Niels Visker, and the pairing of Petr Bar Biryukov and Grigoriy Lomakin.