Indian tennis had a moment to savour at the ATP 125 Bengaluru Open as wildcard entrant Dhakshineswar Suresh produced a composed and convincing first-round victory over Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic.
Ranked 521 in the world, the 22-year-old Indian defeated the former World No. 105 in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to advance to the Round of 16 and mark one of the most significant wins of his professional career.
Playing in front of home support, Suresh showed maturity beyond his ranking, combining discipline from the baseline with timely aggression to outmanoeuvre Ajdukovic, currently ranked 329. The win was not built on flashes of brilliance alone, but on sustained control of key moments — a trait that often separates promising domestic players from those ready to compete consistently on the Challenger Tour.
From the outset, Suresh looked settled. He held serve comfortably in the opening games, matching Ajdukovic shot for shot from the back of the court. The Croatian, who has experience across ATP Challengers and main-tour qualifying events, attempted to dictate play with his forehand, but Suresh absorbed the pressure well, redirecting pace and forcing longer rallies.
That patience paid dividends midway through the first set when the Indian earned the crucial break to go up 4-3.
Serving out the first set at 5-4, Suresh showed impressive composure. He kept his first-serve percentage high and resisted the temptation to overhit, closing the set 6-4 and sending an early signal that this would not be a routine outing for the higher-ranked player.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Ajdukovic raised his level, trying to shorten points and test Suresh’s movement with sharper angles. There were moments when the Croatian looked poised to wrest back control, but Suresh consistently responded with solid defence and well-timed counterpunching. His ability to stay patient under pressure stood out, particularly on break points, where he trusted his patterns rather than going for low-margin winners.
Once again, the decisive moment came in the middle of the set. Suresh broke serve to move ahead 4-3, capitalising on a brief lapse from Ajdukovic. From there, the Indian did not let the opportunity slip. Serving at 5-4 for the match, he closed it out with authority, sealing a straight-sets victory that underlined both his tactical awareness and mental strength.
This result carries significance beyond a single match win. For Suresh, the wildcard entry into the Bengaluru Open represented an opportunity to test himself against established Challenger-level competition.
Beating a player of Ajdukovic’s pedigree validates the progress he has made over the past year and highlights his potential to bridge the gap between domestic success and consistent performances on the international circuit.
It also reinforces the value of Challenger events on home soil for Indian players. Tournaments like the Bengaluru Open provide rare chances for Indian youngsters to face higher-ranked opponents without the burden of extensive travel. Suresh made full use of that opportunity, turning familiarity with conditions into a competitive advantage.
Up next, Suresh will face the winner of the second-round clash between eighth seed Benjamin Hassan of Lebanon, ranked 259, and France’s Felix Balshaw, ranked 718. Either matchup will present a different challenge.
Hassan brings experience and consistency at this level, while Balshaw, though lower-ranked, could play with freedom and nothing to lose. For Suresh, the key will be to maintain the same discipline and clarity that carried him through the opening round.
Indian tennis has long searched for depth beyond its established names, and performances like this offer quiet encouragement. While it would be premature to draw long-term conclusions from one result, Suresh’s win is a reminder that ranking gaps can be bridged with the right mix of preparation, belief, and execution.
At ATP 521, Dhakshineswar Suresh entered the Bengaluru Open as an underdog. He leaves the first round as a player who has announced his intent to compete not merely participate at Challenger level. For Indian tennis followers, that in itself is a development worth watching closely as the tournament unfolds.
