ITF M15 Gwalior: 18-year-old Arjun Rathi stuns second seed Sidharth Rawat in three-hour thriller

Indian tennis witnessed one of its most compelling early-round upsets of the season as 18-year-old Arjun Rathi produced the biggest win of his young career, defeating second seed Sidharth Rawat 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3 in the opening round of the ITF M15 Gwalior.

The match lasted over three hours, a test of physical endurance, mental clarity, and tactical maturity and the teenager passed all three with remarkable poise.

Rathi, a product of the RoundGlass Academy, stepped onto court as the clear underdog. Rawat, ranked ATP 687, is one of the most experienced names in the Indian ITF circuit, known for his consistency, court coverage, and ability to grind opponents down. By contrast, Rathi only transitioned into the professional circuit earlier this year, having been unranked as recently as September 2024 and cracking the top 100 in juniors after a strong stretch of 61 junior matches. But rankings mattered little on Wednesday, as Rathi showed why he is increasingly being regarded as one of India’s most exciting young prospects.

The opening set set the tone for the contest. Rawat used his experience to control the tempo early, working the margins and extending rallies, but Rathi responded with admirable composure. His improved baseline stability a major part of his development this season kept him competitive in long exchanges, while his willingness to finish points at the net surprised Rawat repeatedly. The set eventually moved into a tiebreak, where Rathi completely took over, playing a fearless sequence of aggressive forehands and smart approach shots to seal it 7-6(2).

The second set was a classic momentum swing. Rawat tightened his patterns, used his serve more effectively, and forced Rathi into deeper defensive positions. The teenager still showed flashes of brilliance, especially with his rally tolerance and court coverage, but the second seed’s consistency proved decisive as Rawat levelled the match 7-5. As the contest crossed the two-hour mark, the physical and emotional load began to intensify.

What followed in the final set reflected Rathi’s competitive maturity more than his age. Instead of fading after losing a close second set, he reset instantly. His serve not overpowering but increasingly reliable gave him crucial head starts in service games, and he began stepping inside the baseline to take time away from Rawat. The teenager broke early for 3-1, and from there, his movement and decision-making looked sharper with every point. Rawat attempted to mount a final push, but Rathi’s insistence on dictating rallies and his ability to finish points at the net closed the door. At 5-3, he played a composed final game, sealing a famous victory 6-3.

This is not Rathi’s first step into senior relevance. His rise has been steady and organic. From being unranked in September 2024 to making the top 90 in juniors by May 2025, Rathi has built his trajectory on work ethic and adaptability. He earned his first pro main-draw win earlier this year, and Wednesday’s performance reinforces the belief that he is ready to commit to full-time professional tennis from 2026. Coaches who have tracked his junior career often highlight the same qualities: balance from the baseline, efficient movement, high rally tolerance, and an instinctive sense of when to transition forward.

Rathi is part of a promising next wave in Indian men’s tennis. Alongside players like Hitesh Chauhan, he is seen as someone capable of pushing India’s depth at the Challenger and ITF levels in the coming years. Victories like this against an experienced senior professional are the kind that accelerate confidence and belief.

In the second round, Rathi will face Maan Kesharwani, another rising Indian player. The matchup offers him a chance to continue his breakthrough week, but even at this early stage of the tournament, his performance against Rawat has already become one of the standout stories of the M15 Gwalior.

For Indian tennis followers, this was more than just an upset. It was a glimpse of what might be coming next.