Tennis

Rutuja Bhosale and Paige Hourigan, a formidable doubles duo, showcased their exceptional skills at the $60,000 ITF women's tennis tournament in Fukuoka, Japan. The pair secured a convincing 6-4, 6-3 victory over Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Eri Shimizu in the doubles pre-quarterfinals.Bhosale and Hourigan displayed remarkable teamwork and court coverage throughout the match. Their aggressive baseline play and precise volleys kept their opponents on the back foot. The Indian-New Zealand duo broke their opponents' serve twice in the first set and once in the second set, demonstrating their dominance.In other matches, Karan Singh of India continued his impressive run at the $15,000 ITF men's tournament in Monastir, Tunisia. He defeated Samir Reguig of Algeria in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, in the first round.Meanwhile, in the $25,000 ITF women's tournament in Platja D'Aro, Spain, the Spanish duo of Celia Sanchez and Charo Banuls advanced to the doubles pre-quarterfinals with a 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over Sharmada Balu and Sowjanya Bavisetti.In the $15,000 ITF women's tournament in Kursumlijska Banja, Serbia, the Serbian pair of Mila Masic and Nikol Palecek secured a 6-2, 6-1 win over Prathyusha Rachapudi and Lucia Tognoni in the doubles pre-quarterfinals.These results highlight the growing talent and competitiveness in the international tennis circuit. Players from various countries are making their mark, showcasing their skills and determination on the court.

Yuki Bhambri, India's No. 2 doubles player, is aiming for a berth at the Paris Olympics after a successful start to the season. Bhambri, who won his second ATP doubles title in Munich with Albano Olivetti, has set his sights on improving his Slam results and climbing the rankings.With the Olympics deadline approaching after the French Open, Bhambri is eager to represent India in Paris. However, the choice of partner remains uncertain, with Rohan Bopanna, the current world No. 2, likely to be the frontrunner. Bhambri acknowledges that the decision is out of his control but believes his recent performances make him a strong candidate.Bhambri has made significant strides in doubles since switching from singles last year. His partnership with Saketh Myneni helped him climb the rankings, and he has since competed consistently on the ATP tour. Bhambri has made three semi-finals and won a title this season, partnering with Robin Haase and Olivetti.The 31-year-old is focused on improving his net play and volleying, working with three coaches: Aditya Sachdeva, Balachandran Manikkath, and Raven Klaasen. He believes that their combined experience and guidance have contributed to his progress.Bhambri's immediate goal is to continue improving his rankings and competing for titles at the Masters and Slams. He is confident that he has the potential to succeed at the highest level and is determined to make the most of the upcoming opportunities.

Yuki Bhambri, India's top-ranked doubles player, and his French partner Albano Olivetti triumphed in the doubles final of the €651,865 ATP tennis tournament in Munich on Sunday. The victory marked Bhambri's first title of the season and his second ATP doubles title overall.The Indo-French duo defeated wild card entrants Andreas Mies and Jan Lennard Struff 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in a thrilling encounter. Bhambri, 31, has now won 40 titles in his professional career, including 21 in doubles.The victory was particularly significant for Bhambri, who had been struggling with injuries in recent years. He had not won an ATP title since 2018. The triumph in Munich will undoubtedly boost his confidence and provide him with much-needed momentum for the rest of the season.Bhambri and Olivetti had an impressive run throughout the tournament. They defeated Monte Carlo Masters champions Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Belgium in the first round. In the semifinals, they overcame the challenge of Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies, the top seeds.The final against Mies and Struff was a closely contested affair. Both teams held serve throughout the first set, forcing a tiebreaker. Bhambri and Olivetti eventually prevailed 7-6(6) in the tiebreaker.The second set followed a similar pattern, with both teams holding serve until the tiebreaker. This time, Bhambri and Olivetti were even more dominant, winning the tiebreaker 7-6(5) to seal the victory.The triumph in Munich is a testament to Bhambri's resilience and determination. Despite facing setbacks in recent years, he has never given up on his dream of winning more ATP titles. The victory will undoubtedly inspire other Indian tennis players to strive for success on the international stage.

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.

Third seeds Arjun Kadhe and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan emerged victorious in the doubles final of the $82,000 Challenger tennis tournament, defeating second seeds Piotr Matuszewski and Matthew Romios 7-6(5), 6-4. The triumph earned the Indian duo a prize money of $4665 and 75 ATP points, while the runners-up received $2700 and 50 points.For the 35-year-old Jeevan, this marked his 33rd doubles title and his 12th Challenger doubles crown. The 30-year-old Arjun, on the other hand, claimed his 19th doubles triumph and sixth Challenger title.The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams displaying impressive skills and determination. The first set went into a tiebreaker, where Kadhe and Nedunchezhiyan emerged victorious with a 7-5 scoreline. The second set followed a similar pattern, with the Indian duo breaking their opponents' serve in the crucial ninth game to seal the victory.Kadhe and Nedunchezhiyan's victory is a testament to their exceptional teamwork and consistency. They have been a formidable force on the Challenger circuit, consistently reaching the latter stages of tournaments. Their triumph in this event will undoubtedly boost their confidence and propel them towards further success.

Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have continued their impressive run in the men's doubles circuit, reaching the semifinals of the Miami Open. The duo's victory over Dutch-Australian pair Sem Verbeek and John-Patrick Smith in the quarterfinals has secured their place in the last four.Bopanna and Ebden faced a challenging start in the match, struggling with unforced errors in the first set. However, they rallied in the second set, breaking their opponents' serve at crucial junctures to force a tie-breaker. The Indo-Australian pair emerged victorious in the tie-breaker, leveling the match at one set apiece.The third set was a tense affair, with both teams trading breaks. However, Bopanna and Ebden's experience and composure proved decisive. They broke Verbeek and Smith's serve in the 10th game and held their own to seal the victory 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7.This victory is particularly significant for Bopanna, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world in doubles. It helps him maintain his position in the top 10 of the ATP doubles ranking, ensuring his direct qualification for the Paris Olympics in July-August. The cut-off date for rankings to be considered for direct Paris qualification is June 10.Bopanna and Ebden have now reached their third men's doubles semifinal this year. They had previously reached the semifinals of the Adelaide Open and won the Australian Open earlier this year. Their impressive form has made them one of the favorites to win the Miami Open title.In the semifinals, Bopanna and Ebden will face the winners of the match between Marcel Granollers (Spain)/Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) and Lloyd Glasspool (U.K.)/Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands).

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.

Jannik Sinner Extends Unbeaten Streak in Indian Wells Doubles DebutINDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Jannik Sinner's remarkable start to 2024 continued on Saturday as he teamed up with compatriot Lorenzo Sonego to claim victory in their Indian Wells doubles opener.Fresh from his triumph at the Australian Open, Sinner showcased his versatility by transitioning seamlessly to the doubles court. The Italian duo faced a stern test in the form of Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, but they ultimately prevailed in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1.The match began with both teams trading blows, but it was Sinner and Sonego who seized the initiative in the first set. They broke Khachanov's serve at 5-4, putting themselves in a commanding position. However, the Russian-German duo fought back to level the set at 5-5.Undeterred, Sinner and Sonego regained their composure and broke Khachanov's serve once again to take the first set. The second set was a one-sided affair as the Italians dominated their opponents, winning it 6-1.Throughout the match, Sinner and Sonego displayed excellent chemistry and coordination. They covered the court effectively, with Sinner's powerful groundstrokes complementing Sonego's deft touch at the net.The victory extends Sinner's unbeaten streak to 10 matches in 2024. The 21-year-old has now won two titles this season, including the Australian Open and the Montpellier Open.Sinner's success in doubles is a testament to his all-around ability as a tennis player. He is not only a formidable singles player but also a capable doubles competitor.