The ITF M25 Chennai has sprung to life with an opening round that firmly placed Indian players at the centre of the narrative.
A mix of routine wins, hard-earned battles and headline upsets has turned the tournament into a showcase of the depth and competitiveness currently present in Indian men’s tennis, particularly at the Futures level.
Leading the charge was S D Prajwal Dev, who began his campaign with a composed and authoritative performance. Ranked 631, Prajwal Dev dismantled fellow Indian and wildcard Kabir Hans (1268) 6-3, 6-0 in the first round. The scoreline reflected his control of the contest, as he consistently dictated rallies from the baseline and gave Hans little room to settle. The win sets up an intriguing all-Indian Round of 16 clash against Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam, ensuring another Indian will progress to the quarterfinals.
Shanmugam’s presence in the second round is itself the result of one of the more impressive performances of the opening day. The qualifier, ranked 1336, extended his upset run by knocking out Ryuki Matsuda (525) of Japan. In a match that demanded both patience and nerve, Shanmugam prevailed 6-4, 7-6(8), saving crucial points in a tense second-set tiebreak. His ability to stay composed under pressure and execute on big points has been a defining feature of his run so far.
Another standout upset came from Dev Javia, who outplayed Frenchman Felix Balshaw (630) to move into the Round of 16. Ranked 897 and coming through the qualifiers, Javia produced a controlled and disciplined performance to win 6-4, 6-3. He absorbed Balshaw’s pace well and capitalised on key moments, particularly on return games. Javia will now face Niels Visker (678) of the Netherlands, with a quarterfinal berth very much within reach if he can maintain the same level.
The emergence of young Indian talent was further underlined by 18-year-old Hitesh Chauhan, who marked his main-draw debut in style. Playing on a wildcard and ranked 2174, Chauhan stunned qualifier Grigoriy Lomakin (915) of Kazakhstan, winning 7-6(3), 6-3. After edging a tight first-set tiebreak, Chauhan grew in confidence, stepping inside the court and dictating play with his forehand. He will next face Aziz Ouakaa (632) of Tunisia in what will be a significant test of his progress at this level.
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Wildcard Manish Sureshkumar also made headlines with a dominant showing against a higher-ranked opponent. Manish, ranked 961, raced through the opening set against sixth seed Eric Vanshelboim (451), winning it 6-1 and building a 4-1 lead in the second before the Ukrainian retired. While the match ended prematurely, Manish’s aggressive start and command of proceedings underlined his intent. He now faces Dominik Palan (541) of the Czech Republic for a place in the quarterfinals.
Among the more established young names, Manas Dhamne (499) delivered one of the most one-sided results of the round. The 18-year-old brushed aside qualifier Aryan Lakshmanan (2192) 6-1, 6-1, barely allowing his opponent to gain any momentum. Dhamne’s clean ball-striking and early control of points highlighted why he is regarded as one of India’s brightest prospects. His next challenge comes against Sidharth Rawat in an all-Indian Round of 16 encounter.
Rawat earned his place with a gritty three-set win over fourth seed Karan Singh. After losing the opening set 5-7, Rawat responded emphatically, dominating the second set 6-1 before holding his nerve in a decisive tiebreak to close out the match 7-6(3). The victory was a testament to his resilience and tactical adjustments over the course of a demanding contest.
With multiple seeds already eliminated and Indian players occupying a significant portion of the Round of 16, the ITF M25 Chennai is shaping up as a tournament where home players are not merely competing, but genuinely contending for the title.
