Seventeen-year-old Indian tennis prodigy Manas Dhamne continued his remarkable rise on the professional circuit, booking a place in the final of the ITF M15 Monastir event.
Seeded third, Dhamne produced a composed comeback in the semifinal against Swedish qualifier John Hallquist Lithen, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to reach his second career professional final. For the teenager from Pune, the result carries a touch of déjà vu. His maiden professional title also came at this very venue in February 2025. With another chance to lift silverware in Monastir, Dhamne is cementing Tunisia as a happy hunting ground in his fledgling career.
The semifinal began on a shaky note for Dhamne. Lithen, ranked 1309, played fearlessly and capitalised on the Indian’s tentative start, breaking early to take control of the first set. Dhamne struggled with his first serve and was pushed into longer baseline rallies, which the Swede converted into opportunities. Losing the opener 3-6, the pressure was firmly on the Indian teenager. But what followed was a testament to Dhamne’s composure and growing maturity. Resetting his approach, he began stepping into the court, dictating play with his forehand, and targeting Lithen’s backhand with depth and variation.
The shift in momentum was immediate. From 3-6 down, he won 12 of the next 14 games, racing away with the second set 6-1 and repeating the scoreline in the decider. It was not just a comeback but a display of dominance, proving that even when off rhythm, Dhamne now has the tactical clarity to turn matches around.
A Dominant Week in Monastir
The semifinal victory capped a strong week for the 17-year-old, who has consistently shown both resilience and flair across the tournament.
- Round of 32: Dhamne began with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over Portugal’s Diogo Marques, setting the tone for the week.
- Round of 16: He faced a stern test against France’s Arthur Nagel. After a disastrous start, losing the first set 0-6, Dhamne roared back to win 6-1, 6-0, underlining his ability to recover swiftly from setbacks.
- Quarterfinal: Against Germany’s Luca Wiedenmann, who had upset Indian compatriot Chirag Duhan in the opening round, Dhamne displayed authority, winning 6-2, 6-4 to move into the semis.
- Semifinal: His 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Lithen showcased tactical adjustment and mental toughness.
That run of results has taken him into his second professional final in just seven months, both at Monastir.
When Dhamne captured his maiden pro title here earlier this year, he was heralded as one of India’s brightest young tennis prospects. That victory gave him a crucial ranking boost and the belief that he could handle the physical and mental demands of the senior circuit. Now, by reaching another final at the same venue, he is showing that his earlier success was no one-off. The consistency in his results, especially in dealing with varied opponents and styles, is a marker of a player ready to climb further up the ATP ladder.
Currently ranked 687 in the world, Dhamne stands to gain valuable points that could propel him closer to the top 600. For a 17-year-old, that progress is significant, setting the stage for bigger challenges on the Challenger Tour.
Lessons from the Journey So Far
What makes Dhamne’s Monastir run particularly impressive is how it reflects his adaptability:
- Resilience under pressure: From losing a set 0-6 against Arthur Nagel to rallying back with back-to-back one-sided sets, Dhamne has shown the ability to reset quickly.
- Tactical maturity: Against Lithen, he shifted gears effectively, moving away from passive rallies to take control of the points.
- Consistency in results: Four straight wins in a professional tournament, with two comeback victories, reveal both his physical fitness and mental grit.
This mix of resilience, strategy, and consistency bodes well for his future on the ATP Tour.
In Sunday’s final, Dhamne will look to build on his familiarity with Monastir’s conditions. Having already triumphed here once, he will enter the contest with confidence and belief. Regardless of the outcome, reaching two pro finals at 17 is a strong indicator of his upward trajectory. For Indian tennis, his progress is particularly encouraging. With Rohan Bopanna nearing the twilight of his career and Sumit Nagal carrying the torch in men’s singles, the emergence of Dhamne provides depth to India’s tennis narrative. His success also signals the readiness of a new generation of players who can compete internationally.
Manas Dhamne’s journey in Monastir this week is more than just a string of victories. It is a snapshot of a young player learning to handle pressure, adapt to circumstances, and carve out wins even when the odds are against him. His semifinal comeback, turning 3-6 into a commanding win, epitomises the steel and temperament required to succeed at higher levels of tennis. From lifting his first title in Monastir earlier this year to now reaching his second final at the same venue, Tunisia has become a special chapter in Dhamne’s career.
As he steps onto court for the title clash, he carries with him not just the confidence of past success but also the hopes of Indian tennis fans who see in him the promise of a future star. The story of Manas Dhamne is still in its early pages, but if Monastir is any indication, the chapters ahead are bound to be even more compelling.
