Indian tennis had a day to remember as Dhakshineswar Suresh stormed into the main draw of the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open with the biggest victory of his career.
The wildcard entrant, who had already been making waves with back-to-back wins against higher-ranked players in recent weeks, produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo (World No. 103) in three sets 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the final round of qualifying. This triumph not only sealed Suresh’s maiden ATP Tour main draw appearance but also marked his third win over a Top 150 opponent in as many weeks.
The scale of the achievement is magnified by the fact that Tabilo, a former World No. 19 in July 2024, had even notched a high-profile victory against Novak Djokovic earlier this season. For Suresh, who came in ranked 664 in the world, the result represents a breakthrough moment in his young career. The path to this win was anything but straightforward, filled with mental battles, momentum shifts, and a display of resilience that highlighted his growing maturity on the court.
A Nightmare Start for Suresh
The opening set was a disaster for the Indian. Right from the start, he looked overwhelmed by the pace and precision of Tabilo’s game. His returns lacked depth, his rhythm was off, and he struggled to find any stability on the baseline. As unforced errors piled up, Tabilo capitalized ruthlessly, racing through the set 6-1.
It was, by all accounts, one of the worst sets Suresh has played in his professional career. Distracted and unable to settle into rallies, he looked like a player far removed from the one who had dispatched Aidan Mayo in the first qualifying round with sharp forehands and a solid serve. Against a player of Tabilo’s caliber, such lapses are rarely forgiven, and it seemed like Suresh’s run would end prematurely.
What followed, however, was a testament to the mental resolve that Suresh has been developing on the tour. Shaking off the disappointment of the first set, he elevated his level both on serve and on return in the second. His first serve began to click, producing aces at crucial moments, and his forehand once again became the weapon it had been against Mayo. The turning point came in the second-set tiebreak.
Down 1-3, with Tabilo looking poised to close out the contest in straight sets, Suresh dug deep. He stayed aggressive on returns, resisted the temptation to shorten points prematurely, and displayed nerves of steel under pressure. One by one, he reeled off points, eventually sealing the set 7-6(4). The roar that followed from Suresh showed just how much the set meant to him. He was pumped up, and suddenly, the dynamic of the match had shifted. For the first time, it was Tabilo who looked tight, while Suresh was brimming with energy and belief.
Seizing the Decisive Moment
By the third set, momentum was firmly on the side of the Indian wildcard. Suresh continued to serve with authority, racking up aces and keeping Tabilo off-balance with his pace and variety. Importantly, his returns which had been his Achilles’ heel in the first set were now deep and consistent, forcing the Chilean to work hard for every hold.
The critical moment came in the sixth game of the final set. Suresh, sensing an opening, played one of his best return games of the match. He earned two break points, and though Tabilo saved the first, the second proved decisive. Attempting to neutralize the pressure, Tabilo went for an easy shot and missed. The error handed Suresh the vital break. From there, the Indian showed no signs of nerves. Holding serve confidently, he closed out the match 6-3, completing a remarkable turnaround from a disastrous start.
This victory stands as the biggest of Suresh’s career to date. Not only did he defeat a player who had been ranked inside the Top 20 just last year, but he also proved his ability to rally back from difficult situations. Being a set down, trailing in a tiebreak, and facing a vastly more experienced opponent all of these could have been excuses to fold. Instead, Suresh rose to the challenge. Equally significant is the consistency he has shown in recent weeks.
This was his third win over a Top 150 player in just three weeks, a run that underlines his growing readiness to compete at higher levels of the sport. For Indian tennis, which has long awaited fresh names to emerge on the ATP Tour, this result provides genuine cause for optimism.
Road to the Final Qualifier
Before his upset of Tabilo, Suresh had already impressed with a convincing performance against Aidan Mayo in the first round of qualifying. Against Mayo, his lethal forehand and reliable serve were the key weapons, but what stood out most was his ability to handle pressure situations. Even when faced with break points, he kept his composure, targeted Mayo’s backhand with precision, and built points intelligently.
This ability to combine aggression with patience has quickly become a hallmark of Suresh’s game. Against Mayo, it brought him a comfortable win. Against Tabilo, it gave him the platform to mount a comeback when the match appeared to be slipping away. To appreciate the scale of Suresh’s victory, it is worth understanding the context of Tabilo’s recent form.
The Chilean had enjoyed a solid season up until Monte Carlo, before injuries disrupted his momentum. His struggles were evident in his hard-court results, with recent defeats to Tirante in Cancun and Safiullin in Cincinnati, as well as a surprisingly tight battle against Seelig a player who had barely been active on the professional tour due to injuries.
Despite these setbacks, Tabilo remains a dangerous opponent. His left-handed serve, fluid groundstrokes, and ability to cover the court make him a tricky matchup, particularly against inexperienced players. His forehand, in particular, is a weapon that has troubled even elite opponents, while his net play adds variety to his game. That Suresh not only handled but eventually outlasted such a player underscores the magnitude of the upset.
What Lies Ahead
With this victory, Suresh has earned a spot in the main draw of the Winston-Salem Open his first-ever appearance at this level. His next opponent will be Mariano Navone of Argentina. While the challenge will be different, the confidence Suresh carries from this win will undoubtedly make him a dangerous competitor.
More broadly, this performance signals the arrival of a new Indian name on the ATP Tour. Whether he goes deep into the main draw or not, the manner of his qualification highlighted by resilience, composure, and big-match temperament will serve him well as he continues his development.
Dhakshineswar Suresh’s triumph over Alejandro Tabilo will be remembered as a milestone not only in his personal career but also in the ongoing story of Indian tennis. To bounce back from such a poor first set, hold his nerve in a tiebreak, and then close out a deciding set against a seasoned player speaks volumes about his character.
This was not just about powerful serving or shot-making; it was about belief. It was about seizing the moment when the opportunity presented itself and refusing to let setbacks define the outcome. For Suresh, who has now registered three Top-150 wins in as many weeks, the sky seems the limit. Indian tennis fans have long awaited fresh breakthroughs on the ATP Tour, and with this victory, Dhakshineswar Suresh has given them a glimpse of what the future could hold.
Final Score: (WC) Dhakshineswar Suresh (IND, #664) def. Alejandro Tabilo (CHI, #103) 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
Next Match: (Q) Suresh vs Mariano Navone (ARG)
