The ITF M15 Bhubaneswar Futures has turned into a showcase of Indian depth, resilience, and rising talent. With four Indians reaching the quarterfinals and eventually securing both semifinal spots, the tournament is guaranteed an all-Indian final, highlighting the growing strength of India’s men’s tennis circuit.
Among the standout performers, wildcard Kabir Hans, the local favourite from Odisha, produced one of the most memorable runs of the week, upsetting the fourth seed to enter the semifinals and underscoring why he is regarded as one of the state’s brightest prospects.
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Entering the event as a wildcard ranked 1776, Kabir Hans embraced the pressure of playing at home and delivered a gritty, spirited quarterfinal win over fourth seed Timofei Derepasko of Russia (ranked 817). After dropping the first set 1–6, Hans staged a remarkable comeback to take the next two sets 6–4, 6–2, earning one of the biggest wins of his professional career.
The match highlighted the 22-year-old’s improved physicality and tactical discipline. Despite the shaky start, Hans settled into longer rallies, used his forehand more aggressively, and smartly varied height and pace to disrupt the Russian’s rhythm. His energy and engagement with the home crowd amplified the momentum as he stormed through the deciding set. This win marked another step forward in his rapidly developing season and gave local fans a reason to believe in a possible fairytale finish.
Digvijay Pratap Singh Shows Maturity and Control
Seventh seed Digvijay Pratap Singh (ranked 1056) kicked off the quarterfinal stage with a confident win over Ukraine’s Vadym Konovchuk (1322), posting a 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 result. Singh dominated the opening set through clean baseline hitting and sharp returns. Although his level dipped slightly in the second set, he recalibrated in the third and powered his way into the semifinals.
His semifinal against Kabir Hans was expected to be an intense battle between two in-form Indians. But Singh delivered a composed and tactically polished performance to defeat Hans 6–3, 6–2, booking a spot in his first final of the season. Already a winner of two professional titles, the 25-year-old will now look to end the year on a strong note by adding a third trophy to his collection.
Eighth seed Manish Sureshkumar (1085) produced one of the most hard-fought victories in the quarterfinals by beating third seed Dev Javia (808) in a three-set battle. After losing the first-set tiebreak 6–7(4), Manish roared back to win the next two sets 6–1, 6–4, showcasing tremendous perseverance and fitness. His ability to raise the tempo in the second set and maintain consistency in longer rallies allowed him to outlast Javia, who struggled to keep pace as the match wore on.
Manish’s win ensured that three Indians would feature in the semifinals, further underlining the dominance of the home contingent at this year’s event.
Prajwal Dev Keeps Momentum Going in Singles and Doubles
Second seed S D Prajwal Dev (ranked 772) continued his strong form with a gritty quarterfinal win over Rohan Mehra (1709). After dropping the first set 4–6, Prajwal tightened his serve and controlled the patterns of play to take the next two sets 6–3, 6–4. His ability to shift gears under pressure once again highlighted why he remains one of India’s most dependable performers on the ITF circuit.
In the semifinals, Prajwal faced eighth seed Manish Sureshkumar and delivered a powerful statement. Winning 7–6(4), 6–0, he combined defensive solidity with big serving and aggressive court positioning. After edging the first set in a tight tiebreak, Prajwal completely dominated the second, racing through with a bagel to secure his place in the final.
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This run has set up an exciting milestone: Prajwal will now play for his first professional singles title, while he is also in the men’s doubles final, where he already holds 16 career doubles titles. His consistency across formats is a testament to his work ethic and all-court game.
A Memorable Week for Indian Tennis
With Digvijay Pratap Singh and S D Prajwal Dev advancing to the title clash, the ITF M15 Bhubaneswar final will be an all-Indian affair a fitting conclusion to a week dominated by Indian players. The depth shown across the draw, from wildcards to seeded performers, reflects the growing competitiveness within the domestic tennis structure.
For Kabir Hans, the week marks a breakthrough, proof of his ability to challenge higher-ranked players. For Digvijay, it presents a chance to revive his season with a third career title. And for Prajwal, it brings an opportunity to complete a career milestone by lifting his first singles trophy.
The M15 Bhubaneswar Futures has not only produced compelling stories but also reinforced optimism for Indian men’s tennis as an increasingly unified, competitive force on the ITF circuit.
