The doubles draw at the Delhi Open 2026 promises high-quality matchups as Australia’s Dane Sweeny and Japan’s Seita Watanabe headline a competitive field at the DLTA Complex from February 16–22.
The ATP Challenger event brings together a mix of specialist doubles players and accomplished singles competitors, adding tactical variety and depth to the week-long tournament.
Sweeny and Watanabe enter the event as the top-ranked pair in the draw, boasting a combined team ranking of 265. Watanabe, currently ranked 127 in the ATP doubles standings, has built a reputation as a steady presence on the Challenger circuit. Partnering him is Sweeny, ranked 138 in singles, whose all-court game and strong baseline consistency complement Watanabe’s doubles craft. On paper, they form one of the most balanced and dangerous combinations in the tournament.
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While the international field is strong, the home spotlight will firmly be on the Indian pairing of S.D. Prajwal Dev and Nitin Kumar Sinha. Dev, ranked 219 in doubles, and Sinha, ranked 243, are the highest-ranked all-Indian team in the main draw and will spearhead the domestic challenge. Having played together extensively on the Indian circuit and in Challenger events, the duo will look to leverage home conditions and crowd support to make a deep run.
The doubles entry list reflects the Delhi Open’s growing stature on the ATP Challenger Tour. Seven teams have secured direct entry into the main draw based purely on their doubles rankings, underscoring the presence of established specialist partnerships.
At the same time, the tournament also features five players competing in both singles and doubles Jay Clarke (Great Britain), Dane Sweeny (Australia), Michael Geerts (Belgium), Daniel Michalski (Poland), and Rio Noguchi (Japan). Their participation across both formats raises the competitive intensity and presents interesting scheduling and endurance challenges.
Clarke, Sweeny and Michalski have earned entry into the doubles draw via their singles rankings, a route that often adds unpredictability. Players doubling up can bring aggressive returning and high-tempo baseline exchanges into doubles matches, shifting tactical patterns away from traditional serve-and-volley structures. This blend of styles could make the Delhi Open doubles draw particularly dynamic.
For Indian players, tournaments like the Delhi Open serve a crucial developmental function. Competing against higher-ranked international pairs on home courts offers valuable exposure without the travel burden of overseas events. It also provides an opportunity to accumulate ATP ranking points in familiar conditions — an important factor in building long-term consistency on tour.
DLTA President Rohit Rajpal highlighted the tournament’s increasing significance within the Challenger calendar. According to Rajpal, the Delhi Open has evolved into one of the most competitive events in the region, offering Indian players a platform to test themselves against seasoned international opponents while allowing fans to witness high-level tennis up close.
He further emphasised the importance of doubles competition in the broader development ecosystem. The presence of specialist doubles teams alongside singles players strengthens the overall quality of the draw and exposes Indian competitors to varied tactical approaches, quicker net exchanges and different service patterns — all essential components at the Challenger level.
The Delhi Open continues to function as a vital bridge between domestic tennis and the international tour. With ranking points and prize money on offer, it attracts players at critical stages of their careers — those seeking breakthroughs, rebuilding momentum or consolidating their positions within the top tiers of the Challenger circuit.
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For Dev and Sinha, the upcoming week represents more than just another tournament appearance. A strong performance in Delhi could significantly boost their rankings and reinforce their standing as India’s leading doubles pairing on the Challenger stage. For Sweeny and Watanabe, it presents an opportunity to assert their status as top seeds and add valuable points to their campaign.
As the action unfolds at the DLTA Complex, the doubles competition promises tightly contested encounters, tactical depth and a compelling mix of international pedigree and home ambition all hallmarks of a Challenger event on the rise.
