Tennis

Jacob Fearnley's meteoric rise in professional tennis has taken the ATP Challenger Tour by storm. After a stellar college career at Texas Christian University, the 23-year-old Brit has collected four Challenger titles in just five months, propelling him into the Top 100 of the ATP rankings.Fearnley's journey to the pro ranks was not without its challenges. As a self-described "late bloomer," he faced formidable opponents like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in his junior days. However, he credits his time at TCU for shaping him into the player he is today.Upon turning pro in May, Fearnley made an immediate impact by winning the Nottingham Challenger. He then captured the attention of the tennis world at Wimbledon, where he secured his first major win and faced Novak Djokovic on Centre Court. Despite losing in four sets, Fearnley earned the respect of Djokovic and the tennis community.Following Wimbledon, Fearnley embarked on a remarkable run on the Challenger Tour, winning three consecutive events and reaching the final in Chicago. His success has been attributed to his ability to build momentum and confidence throughout tournaments.Fearnley's approach to scheduling is strategic. He takes time off after winning a tournament to ensure he is fresh and prepared for the next challenge. He also acknowledges the role of luck in his victories, recognizing that every tournament presents matches where he could have lost.Despite his rapid ascent, Fearnley remains grounded and focused on the process. He believes he has a lot of time left in his tennis career and is eager to continue improving and achieving his goals.

Indian Duo Chandrasekar and Poonacha Triumph in Villena Challenger DoublesIndian tennis stars Anirudh Chandrasekar and Niki Poonacha have etched their names in the annals of tennis history by capturing the doubles title at the €120,950 Challenger tournament in Villena, Spain. The fourth-seeded pair displayed exceptional teamwork and resilience to overcome Romain Arneodo and Inigo Cervantes in a thrilling final, emerging victorious with a 7-6(2), 6-4 scoreline.This triumph marks the fifth Challenger title for both Chandrasekar and Poonacha, but it is their first together as a duo. It is also the third Challenger title of the season for Niki and the second for Anirudh. Their victory in Villena is a testament to their growing partnership and their ability to perform under pressure.The Indian duo began their campaign with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over the Spanish pair of Sergio Martos Gornes and Oriol Roca Batalla. They then faced a stern test against the experienced duo of Andrej Martin and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn, but they prevailed in a tight three-set battle, winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.In the semifinals, Chandrasekar and Poonacha faced the challenge of the second-seeded pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. The Indians showcased their tactical prowess and determination, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.The final against Arneodo and Cervantes was a tense affair. The first set went into a tiebreaker, where Chandrasekar and Poonacha displayed their nerves of steel to win 7-2. The second set was equally competitive, but the Indian duo managed to break their opponents' serve in the crucial ninth game, eventually sealing the victory with a 6-4 scoreline.Their triumph in Villena has earned Chandrasekar and Poonacha €6,845 and 100 ATP points. The runners-up, Arneodo and Cervantes, received 60 points and €4,050.

Anirudh Chandrasekar and David Hernandez of Spain emerged victorious in the doubles pre-quarterfinals of the €74,825 Challenger tennis tournament in Manacor, Spain. The duo overcame the challenge of Joan Nadal Vives and Abdullah Shelbayh in a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire.The match commenced with both teams trading blows, showcasing their impressive skills and determination. The first set was a closely contested affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The set eventually reached a tiebreaker, where Chandrasekar and Hernandez displayed their resilience and composure to secure the win by a narrow margin of 7-6(6).The second set followed a similar pattern, with both teams matching each other shot for shot. However, this time it was Vives and Shelbayh who managed to edge out their opponents in the tiebreaker, leveling the match at one set apiece.The third set proved to be the most intense and decisive. The teams traded breaks early on, but Chandrasekar and Hernandez managed to gain a crucial break in the eighth game. With the momentum on their side, they held their serve in the following game to take a 10-8 lead in the super tiebreaker.Despite a valiant effort from Vives and Shelbayh, Chandrasekar and Hernandez held their nerve and sealed the victory, advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Their impressive performance showcased their ability to adapt to different playing styles and overcome adversity.In other results from the tournament, S. Mukund of India secured a comfortable victory in the first round of the singles competition, while the doubles team of Sai Karteek Reddy and Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul of Thailand also advanced to the pre-quarterfinals.

Niki Poonacha and Hans Verdugo, a formidable doubles duo, showcased their prowess at the $82,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Lexington, Kentucky. The pair displayed exceptional teamwork and strategic play, ultimately defeating Govind Nanda and Cooper Williams in the doubles pre-quarterfinals with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 victory.In the first set, Poonacha and Verdugo established their dominance early on, breaking their opponents' serve in the second game. They maintained their momentum, holding their own serves comfortably and capitalizing on Nanda and Williams' unforced errors. The set concluded with Poonacha and Verdugo securing a 6-3 advantage.The second set proved to be a more competitive affair, with both teams trading breaks of serve. However, Poonacha and Verdugo's resilience and determination shone through. They broke Nanda and Williams' serve in the crucial ninth game, putting them on the brink of victory. With unwavering focus, they held their own serve in the following game, sealing the set 6-4 and securing their place in the next round.In other matches, S. Mukund of India registered a hard-fought victory over Chung Yun Seong of South Korea in the first round of the $25,000 ITF men's tournament in Taipei. Mukund's consistent groundstrokes and aggressive net play proved too much for his opponent, who retired in the second set with the score standing at 6-1, 2-1.Meanwhile, in the doubles pre-quarterfinals of the same tournament, the Indian duo of Sai Karteek Reddy and Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul of Thailand displayed their chemistry and coordination. They cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Takuya Kumasaka and Taiyo Yamanaka of Japan, showcasing their ability to control the pace of the game and execute well-timed volleys.

Yuki Bhambri, India's top-ranked doubles player, and his French partner Albano Olivetti fell short in the semifinals of the €205,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Bordeaux, France. The Indo-French duo succumbed to the French pair of Quentin Halys and Nicolas Mahut in a closely contested match, losing 6-4, 7-6(7).Bhambri and Olivetti had a strong start to the tournament, winning their first two matches in straight sets. However, they faced a formidable challenge in Halys and Mahut, who are both experienced and highly ranked doubles players.In the first set, the Indo-French pair broke Halys' serve in the opening game but failed to capitalize on their advantage. Halys and Mahut broke back immediately and went on to win the set 6-4.The second set was even more tightly contested, with both teams holding serve until the tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, Halys and Mahut proved to be the more clinical pair, winning 7-6(7) to seal the victory.Despite the loss, Bhambri and Olivetti earned €4,070 and 60 ATP points for their performance in Bordeaux. The tournament was a valuable opportunity for Bhambri to gain experience and improve his doubles ranking.Meanwhile, in the ITF men's event in Kingston, Jamaica, Aryan Shah made a strong showing in both singles and doubles. In the singles semifinals, Shah defeated Ezekiel Clark of the United States in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. However, in the doubles final, Shah and his Swedish partner Leo Borg lost to the Australian-American duo of Jody Maginley and Joshua Sheehy, 4-6, 7-5, [10-2].

Rithvik Bollipalli and Niki Poonacha, the unseeded Indian duo, have advanced to the doubles final of the $164,000 Challenger tennis tournament in Bengaluru. They defeated Anirudh Chandrasekar and Hans Verdugo 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals.Bollipalli and Poonacha displayed impressive teamwork and court coverage throughout the match. They broke their opponents' serve twice in the first set and once in the second set, while holding their own serve comfortably. Their strong net play and aggressive returns proved too much for Chandrasekar and Verdugo to handle.In the title round, Bollipalli and Poonacha will face top seeds Luke Johnson and Skander Mansouri. Johnson and Mansouri have been in dominant form throughout the tournament, dropping only one set en route to the final.Meanwhile, in the women's doubles event of the $40,000 ITF tournament in Shenzhen, China, Prarthana Thombare and Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands emerged victorious. They defeated the Chinese pair of Jiaqi Kang and Xinyu Wang 6-4, 6-4 in the final.Thombare, an experienced Indian doubles specialist, added another title to her impressive resume. This was her 28th career doubles title, a testament to her consistency and skill on the court.In other results, Bekhan Atlangeriev defeated Karan Singh 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the $15,000 ITF men's tournament in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Atlangeriev will face the winner of the other semifinal between Denis Yevseyev and Evgenii Tiurnev in the final.

Arjun Kadhe and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, India's top doubles pair, have advanced to the final of the €74,825 Challenger tennis tournament in Murcia, Spain. The duo defeated Francisco Cabral and Henrique Rocha of Portugal 6-4, 7-6(4) in a thrilling semifinal match.Kadhe and Nedunchezhiyan started the match strongly, breaking their opponents' serve in the opening game. They maintained their advantage throughout the first set, eventually winning it 6-4. The second set was a closer affair, with both teams holding serve until the tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, Kadhe and Nedunchezhiyan proved to be the more clinical pair, winning it 7-4 to seal the victory.The Indian pair will now face the top seeds, Theo Arribage of France and Victor Cornea of Romania, in the final. Arribage and Cornea are a formidable team, having won multiple Challenger titles together. However, Kadhe and Nedunchezhiyan will be confident of their chances, having already defeated the second seeds in the quarterfinals.If Kadhe and Nedunchezhiyan can win the final, it will be a major boost for their careers. They are currently ranked 104th in the world in doubles, and a victory in Murcia would see them move into the top 100. It would also be a significant achievement for Indian tennis, as it would be the first time an Indian pair has won a Challenger title in over a decade.

In a thrilling display of tennis prowess, Ramkumar Ramanathan outplayed the reigning champion Stefano Napolitano in the first round of the $133,250 Maha Open Challenger tennis tournament at the Balewadi Stadium on Tuesday. The Indian ace served with precision and executed intelligent strokes, turning the tide in his favor in both sets.Ramkumar, once ranked 111, showcased his resilience and determination throughout the match. Despite a slow start, he elevated his game when it mattered most, particularly with his powerful serve. He fired 15 aces and displayed imaginative stroke play, keeping Napolitano on the back foot.The 28-year-old Indian converted one of the nine break points in the match, while Napolitano capitalized on one of two break points early on. Ramkumar's victory sets up a second-round clash with qualifier Alexey Zakharov, while Sumit Nagal, who had earlier secured a hard-fought victory, will face compatriot Niki Poonacha.In the doubles competition, the woes of Sriram Balaji and Andre Begemann continued as the fourth seeds suffered a first-round defeat despite having a match point. Coach M Balachandran attributed their loss to a lack of confidence and poor execution in tie-breaks and return games.