It was a busy day for Indian doubles players at the ATP 100 Challenger and WTA 125 event in Jingshan, with several pairs advancing to the quarter-finals while others saw their campaigns end.
The results underlined both the growing depth of Indian doubles tennis and the fine margins that often decide outcomes in this format. In the men’s doubles draw at the ATP 100 Challenger, the all-Indian duo of Arjun Kadhe and Rithvik Bollipalli enjoyed a confident outing. Taking on the pairing of Omar Jasika (Australia) and Dmitry Yevseyev (Kazakhstan), the Indians struck the right balance between aggression and consistency, securing a 6-3, 6-4 victory. The win was built on strong serving and disciplined net play.
Kadhe’s experience on the doubles circuit and Bollipalli’s sharp reflexes allowed them to dictate the tempo of rallies, while Jasika and Yevseyev struggled to convert half-chances. The straight-sets victory means the Indian duo have reached the quarter-finals, where they will aim to continue their momentum.
Chandrasekar and Stalder Survive Thriller
While Kadhe and Bollipalli won comfortably, the Indo-American pairing of Arjun Kadhe’s compatriot Niki Kaliyanda Chandrasekar and American partner Robert Stalder faced a far sterner test. Up against Liam Draxl (Canada) and Eliot Spizzirri (USA), the pair looked down and out after losing the opening set 1-6. However, Chandrasekar and Stalder mounted a spirited comeback in the second set, forcing a tiebreak that they clinched to level the contest. With momentum shifting in their favour, they dominated the deciding match tiebreak, running away with it 10-4. The final scoreline – 1-6, 7-6, 10-4 – reflected both their resilience and ability to seize control under pressure.
Their quarter-final spot ensures two Indian men remain in contention in the Challenger’s doubles draw, continuing a trend of steady progress for Indian doubles specialists on the international circuit.
WTA 125: Raina and Bhosale Ease Through
In the women’s doubles, the Indian contingent produced several notable performances. Leading the way was the experienced pairing of Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale, who made light work of their opening assignment. Facing the Korean-Chinese team of Kim Na Ri and Yuan Chengyiyi, the Indians delivered a composed performance to win 6-1, 6-3. Raina and Bhosale have been long-time doubles partners and their chemistry was evident from the outset. With crisp volleys and effective service returns, they denied their opponents any foothold in the match. The straight-sets win takes them into the quarter-finals, where they will look to carry their form deeper into the draw.
Another Indian success story came from Riya Bhatia, who partnered with Lulu Sun Tran of the Netherlands. Their contest against the Chinese duo of Ma Yexin and Zhang Yingying (1996-born) was anything but straightforward.
The Indo-Dutch pair struggled initially, losing the first set 2-6, but they recalibrated their tactics in the second, improving their returns and holding serve more consistently. They levelled the match with a 6-3 second set before edging a tense match tiebreak 10-4. The comeback win ensured that Bhatia and Tran joined Raina and Bhosale in the last eight, doubling Indian representation in the women’s doubles quarter-finals.
Early Exits: Thombare and Thandi Fall
Not all Indian results were positive. The pairing of Prarthana Thombare and Arianne Hartono (Netherlands) fell in the round of 16 to the British-Chinese duo of Jodie Burrage and Sun Lulu. Despite showing flashes of promise, Thombare and Hartono were unable to sustain pressure, losing 5-7, 1-6.
Meanwhile, Karman Kaur Thandi suffered a frustrating exit in the quarter-finals alongside her Russian partner Valeria Savinykh. The Indo-Russian team was forced to retire from their match after dropping the first set 0-6, with fitness concerns cutting short their campaign. For Thandi, it was a disappointing end after an encouraging start to the week.
The results from Jingshan encapsulate the current state of Indian doubles tennis: a mix of progress, resilience, and occasional setbacks. On the men’s side, Kadhe/Bollipalli’s smooth progression and Chandrasekar/Stalder’s fighting spirit ensure continued representation at the Challenger level, a positive sign for Indian men’s doubles where new combinations are beginning to emerge. On the women’s side, Raina and Bhosale’s steady partnership continues to be India’s most reliable doubles pairing. Their ability to win comfortably in the early rounds bodes well for deeper runs. The emergence of other pairings, like Bhatia/Tran, adds further depth to India’s presence at the WTA 125 level.
However, the early exits of Thombare and Thandi also highlight the challenges Indian women face in maintaining consistency across events. Injuries and retirements remain a concern, underlining the need for greater physical conditioning and match management.
With multiple pairs advancing to the quarter-finals in both the men’s and women’s draws, Indian tennis fans have reasons for optimism. The Challenger and WTA 125 circuits are critical stepping stones for building ranking points and experience, and every deep run adds valuable momentum. For Kadhe/Bollipalli and Chandrasekar/Stalder, the challenge will be to build on their fighting wins and test themselves against higher-ranked opposition. For Raina/Bhosale and Bhatia/Tran, the focus will be on consistency as they look to turn quarter-final berths into semi-final appearances or beyond.
While the road ahead is demanding, the performances in Jingshan underline that Indian doubles tennis continues to grow stronger, with multiple names making their mark on the international stage.
