In a week of grit, composure, and commanding shot-making, India’s Karan Singh announced his arrival on the ITF circuit with authority, claiming his maiden professional singles title at the M15 Tehran tournament.
The 21-year-old from India, seeded first in the draw and ranked World No. 518, lived up to his top billing by defeating Russia’s Aleksandr Lobanov (WR #932) 7-6(3), 6-2 in the final. Incidentally Karan was top seed last week as well and reached Final, only to lose to local talent Yazdani.
The win caps off a remarkable week for Singh, who showcased both mental resilience and physical consistency to navigate a tough draw and deliver under pressure on Iranian clay.
A Final of Two Halves
The championship match saw Singh take on 6th-seeded Lobanov, a tricky opponent who had also dropped just one set en route to the final. The opening set was fiercely contested, with both players holding serve and producing high-quality rallies.
Singh had to save multiple break points and dig deep to force a tiebreak. Once there, he elevated his level—dictating play with his forehand and mixing up pace to take the breaker 7-3.
The second set, however, was a different story altogether. With the momentum firmly on his side, Singh broke Lobanov early and never looked back. He moved superbly, opened the court with angled shots, and closed points at the net with clinical precision.
The Russian had no answer to the Indian’s pace and aggression as Singh ran away with the set 6-2 to seal the title.
This is a major milestone for Singh, who has been steadily rising through the ranks on the ITF circuit but hadn’t yet captured a singles crown until today.
The Road to the Title
Karan Singh’s path to the title was anything but smooth. After a comfortable opening round, he had to fight through physical and tactical battles to emerge victorious in four successive rounds:
- R1: def. Luka Todorovic (SRB) – 6-2, 6-3
- R2: def. Daniil Piatrouski – 6-3, 6-4
- QF: def. (8) Brandon Perez (VEN) – 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3
- SF: def. Matteo Covato (ITA) – 6-4, 6-4
- F: def. (6) Aleksandr Lobanov (RUS) – 7-6(3), 6-2
The most significant challenge came in the quarterfinals against Venezuela’s Brandon Perez (WR #1034), where Singh was pushed to three sets. After winning a tight opening set in a tiebreak, he lost concentration briefly in the second, dropping it 4-6.
But showing the composure of a seasoned player, Singh rebounded strongly in the decider to win 6-3.
The semifinal against Italy’s Matteo Covato was another high-quality affair, with Singh controlling both sets with his baseline dominance and improved serve placement to win 6-4, 6-4 and book a place in his first professional final.
What This Means for Karan Singh
This title comes at a pivotal moment in Karan Singh’s career. Having hovered around the lower end of the top 600, this win not only gives him valuable ATP ranking points, but also a huge morale boost.
Breaking the barrier of winning that first singles title is often a psychological hurdle, and doing so as the top seed underlines his ability to handle pressure and live up to expectations.
With the clay season in full swing and more ITF and Challenger events lined up in the coming months, Singh will now look to build on this success and push for consistent results to break into the top 400 by the end of the year.
Indian Tennis: Quiet Momentum Building
Karan Singh’s triumph adds to the growing list of Indian men making waves on the ITF circuit. With Sumit Nagal leading the way on the ATP Tour, and players like Manas Dhamne, Aryan Shah, and now Karan Singh gaining traction in the lower tiers, the future looks increasingly promising for Indian tennis.
This win is not just about one trophy—it’s about announcing intent, reinforcing belief, and setting the tone for bigger battles ahead.
IndiaSportsHub will continue to follow Karan Singh’s journey as he eyes more titles and deeper runs on the international stage.
