India’s Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro sealed one of the biggest victories of their partnership on Friday, winning the 2026 Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff in Chengdu, China, and earning a coveted spot in the men’s doubles main draw at the first Grand Slam of the year.
The Indo–Thai pair produced a composed and tactically sharp performance to defeat Japan’s Shunsuke Nakagawa / Yusuke Kusuhara 6–4, 6–3 in the final. The win not only caps off a strong run together this season where they collected a Challenger title and a runner-up finish but also marks their first-ever Grand Slam appearance as a team.
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The final began with both teams feeling out the conditions, trading early holds. Poonacha-Isaro were pushed to deuce in their opening service game but steadied themselves with strong net coverage and quick +1 finishes from Niki. Their first hold, though delayed, set the tone for a high-quality contest.
As the opening set progressed, the Indo-Thai pair found their rhythm, especially on serve. Their first-serve points won hovered around an impressive 94%, an advantage that allowed them to build scoreboard pressure even as Nakagawa and Kusuhara tried to impose their aggressive net play.
At 5–4, Poonacha-Isaro pounced. A forehand error from Nakagawa handed them two set points before Isaro finished the job with a crisp forehand winner, sealing the opening set 6–4. The Japanese pair, who had shown promise in previous rounds, struggled with their second-serve delivery and depth, allowing Poonacha and Isaro to dictate from the back and finish points at the net.
Early Break Powers Dominant Second Set
Carrying momentum into the second set, Isaro produced one of the points of the match with a stunning backhand retrieval at 1–0, showcasing the pair’s defensive resilience. A double fault from the Japanese pair gave Poonacha-Isaro the opening they needed, and Sharp volleying from Isaro confirmed the early break for 2–0.
They consolidated quickly for a 3–0 lead, appearing fully in command. Kusuhara and Nakagawa finally got on the board at 3–1 with a solid hold, and when Poonacha’s service game faltered in the next game, the Japanese duo broke back to narrow the score to 4–3. But the resurgence was short-lived. Poonacha-Isaro responded immediately with sharp anticipation and consistent returning, pressuring Nakagawa into errors. A double fault from the Japanese side handed the break straight back, and Poonacha-Isaro stepped up to serve for the match at 5–3.
With the finish line in sight, Poonacha’s big serve and controlled aggression returned. A clean final service game sealed the match 6–4, 6–3, confirming their passage into the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open.
A Breakthrough Moment for Poonacha and Isaro
The Chengdu triumph marks a major milestone for both players. For Poonacha, one of India’s most hardworking doubles specialists, the wildcard is a reward for a consistent season that saw steady improvements in all facets of his doubles game particularly volleying and serve reliability. Isaro, a seasoned Thai professional, has found excellent chemistry with Poonacha, and their combination of firepower, reactive skills, and decisive net work has proved increasingly effective at the Challenger level.
Their victory was earned on merit—sharp serving, disciplined returning, strong net exchanges, and opportunistic shot selection. They also showed composure under pressure, recovering quickly after being broken in the second set and immediately reclaiming control.
Looking Ahead to Melbourne 2026
With the wildcard officially secured, Poonacha and Isaro will now prepare for the bright lights of Melbourne Park. For both, it will be their first appearance as a pair in a Grand Slam main draw an important step in their careers and an exciting development for Indian and Southeast Asian tennis fans. The Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoffs concluded with Poonacha–Isaro crowned champions, ahead of runners-up Kusuhara–Nakagawa, capping off a week of highly competitive doubles action in Chengdu.
As they head towards the Australian Open 2026, the duo will look to carry their form, chemistry, and newfound confidence to the biggest stage of their careers so far.
