Tennis

India's Yuki Bhambri and Albano Olivetti have made history at the US Open, advancing to the men's doubles third round with a hard-fought victory over 15th seeds Austin Krajicek and Jean-Julien Roger. The Indo-French pair overcame the USA-Dutch team 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a thrilling encounter that lasted two hours and five minutes.This marks only the second time Bhambri has reached the third round of a Grand Slam, having achieved the same feat at the Australian Open in 2014. The victory is a testament to the duo's determination and skill, as they battled through a challenging match to secure their place in the next round.Meanwhile, second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden also progressed to the third round with a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win over Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena and Federico Coria from Argentina. Bopanna's success extended to the mixed doubles, where he and Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi defeated Germany's Tim Puetz and Dutch player Demi Schuurs 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) in the opening round.However, N Sriram Balaji and his Argentine partner Guido Andreozzi's US Open journey came to an end in the second round. The Indo-Argentine pair lost 6-7 (4), 4-6 to Michael Venus of New Zealand and Neal Skupski of Great Britain. Despite a valiant effort, Balaji and Andreozzi were unable to capitalize on their lone opportunity for a service break, while their opponents converted one of their seven break points.Reflecting on his campaign, Balaji expressed his satisfaction with his performance and highlighted the importance of consistency and improvement. "The first step is to consistently play at this level. It's starting from here. Now the next step is to get my ranking higher slowly," he said. "Game wise I'm feeling confident and moving in the right direction."

Indian tennis star Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti have triumphed at the ATP Swiss Open, capturing the men's doubles title in a thrilling encounter. The duo overcame the challenge of French pair Fabrice Martin and Ugo Humber in a hard-fought match that lasted an hour and six minutes.Bhambri and Olivetti, seeded third in the ATP 250 clay court tournament, faced a stern test in the final against the unseeded Martin-Humbert duo. After dropping the first set 3-6, they displayed remarkable resilience to level the match and force a tie-break. In the decisive set, they showcased their composure and skill to emerge victorious with a 10-6 scoreline.This triumph marks Bhambri's third ATP title, all of which have come in the 250 series. It is also the second title for the Bhambri-Olivetti partnership, following their victory at the Bavarian Championships earlier this year.Bhambri's success at the Swiss Open is a testament to his consistent performance on the doubles circuit. He had previously won his maiden ATP title at the 2023 Mallorca Championships with Lloyd Harris. His impressive run has propelled him into the top 50 of the doubles rankings, and this latest victory is expected to further enhance his position.The Indo-French pair had maintained an unblemished record in the tournament prior to the final, not dropping a single set. However, they faced a formidable challenge in Martin-Humbert, who had upset the top-seeded pair of Jamie Murray and Adam Pavlasek in the quarter-final.Despite the setback in the first set, Bhambri and Olivetti remained composed and executed their game plan effectively. Their ability to adapt and respond to the challenges posed by their opponents was crucial to their eventual triumph.Earlier this month, the duo had suffered a second-round exit at the Wimbledon Championships, losing to German pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in three sets. However, they have bounced back strongly with this victory, demonstrating their determination and resilience.

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].

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.