Top seeds Siddhant Banthia of India and Alexander Donski of Bulgaria held their nerve under immense pressure to claim the doubles crown at the 2026 Delhi Open on Saturday, saving a match point in a gripping final at the DLTA Complex.
The duo edged past the second-seeded pairing of Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro in a dramatic contest that went down to the wire, winning 4–6, 6–4, 12–10 in the match tie-break.
Meanwhile, the singles draw saw fifth seed Oliver Crawford of Great Britain and Greece’s Stefanos Sakellaridis advance to the final, setting up an intriguing title clash on Sunday at the ATP Challenger 75 event, which has attracted 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams for its sixth edition this year.
The doubles final lived up to expectations, delivering high-quality tennis from both teams. Banthia and Donski dropped the opening set 4–6 as Poonacha and Isaro capitalised on early momentum to take control. However, the top seeds regrouped quickly, raising their intensity and tightening their service games to level the match by taking the second set 6–4.
The deciding match tie-break proved to be a tense and fiercely contested affair. Both teams exchanged mini-breaks and fought hard for every point, with neither side willing to concede an inch. At 10–10, both pairs had saved one match point each before Banthia and Donski eventually edged ahead to seal a memorable victory.
The triumph marked Banthia’s second ATP Challenger doubles title, both achieved alongside Donski, while the Bulgarian secured his third Challenger-level doubles crown. In addition to the trophy, the winning pair earned 75 ranking points and a prize cheque of $4,980. Runners-up Poonacha and Isaro collected 50 ranking points along with $2,880 in prize money.
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Speaking after the win, Donski acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents. “It was a great performance. They played very well and brought out the best of us. I’m grateful to my partner for being with me throughout the week. We had good energy and chemistry, and now we’re looking forward to the next tournament in Pune,” he said.
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Banthia echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the trust between the pair as a key factor. “I trust in Alex as much as he does in me. That was crucial because we knew the match was going to be tough. Hanging in during the important moments made the difference, and I thought we did exceptionally well when it mattered most,” he remarked.
Earlier in the day, Banthia and Donski had secured their place in the final by defeating the British-Belgian combination of Jay Clarke and Michael Geerts 7–6(6), 7–6(3) in the semi-finals. Poonacha and Isaro, on the other hand, overcame the Korean-Finnish duo of JiSung Nam and Patrik Niklas-Salminen 7–6(3), 6–4 to book their spot in the title clash.
The victory also ensured that an Indian player lifted the doubles trophy at the Delhi Open for the third time in the tournament’s history. Previously, Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh had triumphed in 2015, followed by Yuki Bhambri and Mahesh Bhupathi in 2016.
In the singles competition, Oliver Crawford advanced to the final with a composed straight-sets win over second seed Rei Sakamoto of Japan. The British player, currently ranked No. 215 in the world, broke Sakamoto in the 10th game of the opening set to convert his fourth set point and take the lead. He followed it up with another crucial break in the second set before serving out the match 6–4, 6–3 in one hour and 38 minutes.
Crawford converted two of eight break-point opportunities and did not face a break on his own serve, delivering a clinical performance under pressure.
“It was a very high-level match. I thought I played very well from start to finish,” Crawford said. “He’s a very good player, so I knew I had to be at my best. I’m pleased with how I performed and looking forward to the final.”
In the other semi-final, Sakellaridis continued his impressive run with a 6–1, 7–6(5) victory over Felix Gill of Great Britain. The Greek dominated the opening set before being drawn into a closely contested second set that featured no break points and ultimately went into a tie-break.
Gill saved three match points in the tie-break, but Sakellaridis converted his fourth opportunity to secure his maiden ATP Challenger Tour final appearance in one hour and 31 minutes.
“It was a great game and a great atmosphere,” Sakellaridis said. “I managed to start very well and take the first set quickly. The second set was a big battle, but I’m happy to get through. It’s my first final on the Challenger Tour, so I’m very excited.”
As part of the ATP Challenger 75 series, the singles champion will earn 75 ranking points along with $17,000 in prize money, while the runner-up will receive 44 points and $9,600.
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With the Indian challenge in singles now over, Somdev Devvarman remains the only home singles champion in the tournament’s history, having won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. Sunday’s final between Crawford and Sakellaridis now promises to conclude the 2026 Delhi Open with a compelling showdown for the singles crown.
