India will have a strong presence in the men’s doubles draw of the US Open 2025, with five players set to feature in the main draw. Leading the charge are the country’s top two doubles players Yuki Bhambri and Rohan Bopanna both hoping to make a deep run at the season’s last Grand Slam.
India’s current No. 1-ranked doubles player Yuki Bhambri has joined forces with New Zealand’s Michael Venus, the world No. 17 and a proven doubles campaigner on the ATP Tour. The Indo-Kiwi pair has already shown glimpses of chemistry, reaching the semi-finals of the Winston-Salem Open earlier this month. Seeded 14th in New York, Bhambri and Venus face a tricky first-round challenge against the American pairing of Marcos Giron and Learner Tien.
While primarily singles players, Giron and Tien bring explosive shot-making and home crowd support to the contest. Tien, just 19, also featured in the singles main draw where he faced Novak Djokovic in the opening round.
This will be Bhambri’s first Grand Slam with Venus after parting ways with American Robert Galloway following Wimbledon. At the All England Club, Bhambri and Galloway lost in the Round of 16 to the highly experienced duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. The change of partner signals Bhambri’s intent to push further into the latter stages of majors.
Bopanna Teams Up with Romain Arneodo
At 43 years of age, Rohan Bopanna remains one of the most respected figures in doubles tennis, but 2025 has been a mixed year for the Bengaluru star. After early exits at two of the three Slams so far, Bopanna arrives in New York with Monaco’s Romain Arneodo as his partner. The pair only recently came together on tour, with the US Open being their second event together. They will open against the young American duo Robert Cash and JJ Tracy, a match that should test Bopanna’s experience and Arneodo’s aggressive baseline play.
For Bopanna, who has often carried the flag for Indian tennis at majors, this is another chance to rediscover form and consistency.
Among the other Indians in action, Arjun Kadhe faces the toughest first-round draw. Teaming up with Ecuador’s Diego Hidalgo, Kadhe will run into the tournament’s second seeds Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) and Mate Pavic (Croatia). Arevalo and Pavic are among the most successful pairings on tour, which means Kadhe and Hidalgo will have to play near-flawless tennis to spring an upset.
Balaji & Bollipalli Enter as a Homegrown Pair
For the first time in several years, India will also have a fully homegrown pairing in the US Open men’s doubles main draw. N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli combine as an all-Indian team, facing the American-Dutch pairing of Vasil Kirkov and Bart Stevens in their opener. Both Balaji and Bollipalli have been active on the ATP Challenger circuit and will look to use their familiarity with each other to navigate the pressure of a Grand Slam setting.
Having five Indian players in the US Open doubles draw is a reflection of how the country’s tennis landscape has shifted in recent years. With singles representation at the majors having become scarce, doubles has emerged as a space where Indians continue to thrive and remain relevant on the global stage. Bhambri’s steady rise since switching full-time to doubles, Bopanna’s veteran leadership, and the emergence of players like Kadhe, Balaji, and Bollipalli give Indian tennis multiple storylines to follow. For fans back home, the sight of multiple tricolors in the draw is a boost at a time when men’s singles representation is absent at Grand Slam level.
India’s Men’s Doubles Representation at US Open 2025
- Yuki Bhambri / Michael Venus (NZL) – 14th seeds, vs Marcos Giron / Learner Tien (USA)
- Rohan Bopanna / Romain Arneodo (MON) – vs Robert Cash / JJ Tracy (USA)
- Arjun Kadhe / Diego Hidalgo (ECU) – vs Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) / Mate Pavic (CRO) [2nd seeds]
- N Sriram Balaji / Rithvik Bollipalli (IND) – vs Vasil Kirkov (USA) / Bart Stevens (NED)
With Bhambri looking to establish himself among the elite doubles players, Bopanna seeking one more big Slam run, and the younger Indians gaining valuable exposure, the US Open promises to be an important chapter in India’s tennis story this season.
