Indian tennis enjoyed a strong day at the ITF and ATP events in Nonthaburi, Thailand, with multiple doubles teams progressing to the semifinals across both the women’s and men’s draws.
While singles campaigns have often drawn the spotlight, the latest results once again underlined India’s growing depth and consistency in doubles, particularly at the Challenger and ITF circuit level.
At the ITF W75 Nonthaburi, India’s top-ranked women’s player, Ankita Raina, partnering Yu-Yun Li of Chinese Taipei, produced a gritty comeback victory to reach the semifinals of the women’s doubles. The Indo–Taiwanese pair defeated the third-seeded combination of Rutuja Bhosale and Wushuang Zheng in a tightly contested quarterfinal, winning 4–6, 6–3, 10–5 after an intense match lasting over an hour and forty minutes.
The contest followed a familiar pattern for experienced doubles players. Raina and Li conceded the opening set after a few loose service games but regrouped impressively in the second. Their improved net positioning and sharper returns began to put pressure on the seeded pair, forcing errors and tilting momentum decisively. In the match tiebreak, Raina’s calm shot selection and Li’s aggressive poaching proved decisive, as they raced ahead and closed out the match convincingly.
For Ankita Raina, this run represents another solid doubles showing on the international circuit. While her singles journey continues to face challenges against higher-ranked opposition, doubles has remained an area of consistency, allowing her to pick up valuable match time, ranking points, and confidence. Her partnership with Yu-Yun Li has looked increasingly settled, and their semifinal appearance places them firmly in contention for the title.
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India’s success was not limited to the women’s draw. In the ATP 75 Nonthaburi Challenger, Indian men’s doubles pairs also delivered strong performances, ensuring a significant Indian presence in the semifinals.
On Court A, the experienced pairing of N. Sriram Balaji and Austria’s Neil Oberleitner advanced after a hard-fought quarterfinal victory. Balaji, one of India’s most reliable doubles specialists, once again showcased his strengths at the net and on serve, guiding the pair through key moments to secure a straight-sets win. His consistency at the Challenger level continues to be a vital pillar for Indian doubles representation in men’s tennis.
Meanwhile, Court B witnessed another encouraging Indian result as Anirudh Chandrasekar, partnering with Japan’s Toru Yuzuki, booked their place in the semifinals. Chandrasekar’s rise over the past few seasons has been marked by steady improvement in shot tolerance and tactical awareness, and the Nonthaburi performance reflects that progression. Their ability to close out the match efficiently highlighted growing chemistry and confidence as a pair.
With two men’s pairs involving Indian players progressing to the semifinals alongside Ankita Raina’s success in the women’s doubles, the day belonged firmly to Indian doubles tennis. These results also reinforce a broader trend: while India continues to search for sustained breakthroughs in singles at the highest levels, doubles remains an area of relative strength and reliability.
The Nonthaburi performances are particularly significant given the competitive nature of Challenger and ITF events, which often feature seasoned international pairs using these tournaments as stepping stones to higher-tier competitions. Consistent semifinal and final appearances not only boost rankings but also help Indian players stay relevant in the global doubles ecosystem.
As the tournament moves into its decisive stages, Indian fans will be hoping these pairs can convert momentum into finals and, potentially, titles. Regardless of the final outcomes, the results at Nonthaburi serve as a timely reminder that India’s doubles core across both men’s and women’s circuits continues to punch above its weight on the international stage.
