Indian tennis has a new name to underline in red. At just 22, Karan Singh delivered one of the biggest performance of his young professional career by stunning top seed and world No. 250 Max Houkes of the Netherlands in straight sets to lift the ITF M15 Hyderabad singles title.
The 6–4, 6–4 victory was not only his third professional singles crown but also his first on home soil and his most significant win by opponent ranking.
For a player ranked 471 coming into the week, defeating a top-250 opponent without dropping a set is a defining moment. It marked the second biggest win of Karan’s career by ranking and a breakthrough that could reshape the trajectory of his 2026 season.
What made the triumph even more impressive was the context. Houkes arrived in Hyderabad as the tournament favourite, the highest-ranked player in the draw and a man with far more experience at this level. Yet from the opening games of the final, Karan looked completely unawed by the occasion, playing a brand of disciplined, high-percentage tennis that repeatedly exposed Houkes’ impatience.
Karan served well, protected his own games with composure and struck at exactly the right moments on return. Both sets followed a similar pattern: Houkes tried to force the pace, while Karan waited for openings and capitalised when they came. A break in each set was enough, and Karan closed out the contest with the maturity of a far more seasoned tour professional.
The title was the reward for a week that had tested every part of his game, mentally and physically.
Karan’s campaign began with a tight three-set win over compatriot Ishaque Eqbal in the second round, a match that required patience and resilience after he dropped the second set. In the quarter-finals, he produced a clean, efficient performance to beat Switzerland’s Jeffrey von der Schulenburg 6–4, 6–4, keeping himself firmly on course.
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The real examination came in the semi-final against American Keshav Chopra. After losing the opening set 4–6, Karan was staring at an early exit. Instead, he dug deep and raised his level, grinding out a tense 7–5 second set before closing the match 6–4 in the decider. It was a contest that showcased his ability to stay calm under pressure and problem-solve mid-match, qualities that would serve him well in the final.
By the time he walked out to face Houkes, Karan had already come through the toughest possible path. He was battle-hardened, and it showed.
The numbers underline just how significant the win was. Houkes, ranked 250 in the world, was more than 200 places above Karan in the ATP rankings. For a player still finding his feet on the ITF circuit, such a victory is rare and meaningful. It signals not just a good week, but the potential for sustained progress.
Equally important is what this title represents within India’s domestic tennis landscape. This was Karan Singh’s first professional singles title on Indian soil, a milestone that carries its own emotional and symbolic weight. For years, Indian players have often had to travel abroad to break through, but Karan has now shown that home tournaments can be springboards rather than stepping stones.
The Hyderabad event itself reflected a healthy depth of Indian participation. Manish Sureshkumar reached the second round in singles before bowing out in the quarter-finals, while several Indian pairs featured in the doubles draw. However, it was Karan who stood tallest, delivering the one result that truly lifted the tournament’s profile.
At 22, he is at a critical stage of his career. Young enough to keep improving, but old enough to start converting promise into points. The three ITF singles titles he now owns, including this one in Hyderabad, suggest that he is learning how to win, not just how to play.
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More importantly, the manner of this title win hints at a growing maturity in his game. Against Houkes, Karan did not try to do too much. He trusted his patterns, stayed disciplined on serve and refused to give the Dutchman cheap points. That kind of tactical awareness is often what separates players who hover around the Challenger cut-off from those who push through it.
This victory will bring a valuable boost in ranking points, but perhaps more crucial is the confidence it provides. Beating a top-250 player in a final sends a message to both Karan and the rest of the circuit: he belongs at a higher level.
For Indian tennis, Karan Singh’s breakthrough week in Hyderabad is another encouraging sign of a new generation beginning to assert itself. With players like him pushing through on the ITF tour, the pathway from domestic tournaments to the ATP ladder looks a little clearer.
As the 2026 season unfolds, Karan will be hoping this is just the first of many big steps forward. But for now, the Hyderabad title stands as a landmark a week when a 22-year-old Indian took on the top seed, the weight of expectation, and a field of seasoned professionals, and came out a champion.
