Indian men’s doubles tennis enjoyed a strong week on the ATP Challenger Tour as Sriram Balaji clinched the doubles title at the Nonthaburi 2 Challenger, while fellow Indian Anirudh Chandrasekar also featured prominently, underlining the growing depth in India’s doubles contingent.
At the Nonthaburi 2 ATP Challenger, the top-seeded pair of Balaji and Austria’s Neil Oberleitner delivered a composed performance in the final, defeating the second-seeded Indo-Japanese combination of Chandrasekar and Yuzuki Takeru 6–3, 7–6 (8–6). The victory capped an impressive week for Balaji, who once again demonstrated his reliability and tactical awareness at Challenger level.
The final itself was a compelling contest between two well-matched teams. Balaji and Oberleitner struck early, breaking serve to take control of the opening set 6–3. Their sharp net positioning and effective first-serve combinations ensured they dictated most of the key exchanges. The second set, however, was far more competitive. Chandrasekar and Yuzuki raised their level, holding serve under pressure and forcing the match into a tense tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, both pairs traded mini-breaks, with momentum swinging repeatedly. Balaji’s experience proved decisive in the closing moments, as he and Oberleitner held their nerve to seal the breaker 8–6 and close out the match in straight sets. For Balaji, the title represents another valuable addition to his Challenger résumé and a timely confidence boost as the Asian hard-court swing continues.
Despite finishing runners-up, Chandrasekar and Yuzuki also had plenty to take away from the week. Their route to the final included a hard-fought semifinal win over the French duo of Lucas Raymond and Theo Sanchez, which they won 7–6 (4), 7–6 (3). The semifinal showcased their resilience, particularly in the first-set tiebreak where they staged an impressive comeback from 0–4 down, winning seven consecutive points to seize control.
That ability to stay composed under pressure has been a hallmark of Chandrasekar’s recent doubles performances. The Chennai-born player has steadily built his reputation as a dependable doubles specialist on the Challenger circuit, often pushing higher-seeded pairs deep into matches. His partnership with Yuzuki has also drawn interest, especially given the Japanese player’s recent experience at the top level. Notably, Yuzuki partnered Indian doubles legend Rohan Bopanna at the ATP 500 Tokyo event in October 2025, where the pair enjoyed a run to the final.
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Adding further intrigue to the week was the overlap with the ATP 75 Bangkok Challenger, where both Balaji and Chandrasekar, with their respective partners, once again made it to the doubles final. In the Bangkok semifinals, Balaji and Oberleitner advanced via a walkover against Thai wild cards Jones and Trongcharoenchaikul, while Chandrasekar and Yuzuki booked their place with another straight-sets victory.
The fact that two Indian players reached finals in consecutive Challenger events, albeit on opposite sides of the draw, highlights the consistency and competitiveness of India’s doubles specialists. While Indian singles players continue to face stiff challenges on the global stage, doubles has emerged as a clear area of strength, with players like Balaji and Chandrasekar carving out sustained careers on the ATP Tour.
For Indian tennis, results like these carry broader significance. Challenger titles and finals not only contribute valuable ranking points but also help players refine their games against high-quality opposition. With the Olympic cycle and Grand Slam qualification pathways increasingly competitive, sustained success at this level is essential.
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As the Asian Challenger swing progresses, Balaji’s title at Nonthaburi and Chandrasekar’s deep runs signal positive momentum. More importantly, they reinforce the notion that Indian men’s doubles continues to be well represented, competitive, and capable of delivering results week after week on the international circuit.
