Roundglass Tennis Academy athlete Karan Singh delivered an impressive week of tennis before finishing runner-up at the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour M25 Kolkata tournament, going down to Australia’s Philip Sekulic in the singles final on Sunday.
Playing at the Bengal Tennis Association Stadium, the 22-year-old Indian faced a tough challenge against Sekulic in the title clash. After struggling in the opening set, Karan mounted a determined comeback in the second and pushed the match into a tie-breaker before eventually losing 1-6, 6-7 in a closely contested final.
Although the result denied him the title, Karan’s run to the final of the $25,000 hard-court tournament reflected his growing maturity and consistency on the professional circuit.
A Challenging Final
The final began with Sekulic taking early control of the match. The Australian displayed aggressive baseline play and sharp serving, which helped him dominate the first set. Karan found it difficult to settle into his rhythm as Sekulic raced through the opening set 6-1.
However, the second set saw a very different contest unfold. Karan began to find his range from the baseline, improving his shot selection and extending rallies to disrupt Sekulic’s rhythm. The Indian showed greater composure in service games and gradually built pressure on his opponent.
Both players held their serve through the set, forcing the match into a tie-breaker. Karan fought hard to stay in the contest, but Sekulic ultimately maintained his edge in the decisive moments to close out the match and secure the title.
Despite the defeat, Karan’s performance in the second set highlighted his ability to compete with experienced players at the international level.
Karan entered the tournament as the second seed and produced a series of strong performances on his way to the final.
He began his campaign with a challenging first-round victory over fellow Indian Aditya Vishal Balsekar, winning 7-6(5), 6-4 in a tight contest. The match tested Karan’s patience and composure, but he managed the crucial points well to advance.
In the second round, he delivered a confident performance against Russia’s Bekhan Atlangeriev, winning 6-2, 7-6(4). Karan controlled the match with consistent baseline play and solid serving, securing his place in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal clash proved to be one of the toughest matches of his campaign. Facing eighth seed Yurii Dzhavakian of Ukraine, Karan dropped the opening set but showed tremendous resilience to turn the match around. He eventually prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in a physically demanding encounter.
Karan displayed similar fighting spirit in the semifinals, where he faced compatriot Sidharth Rawat. After losing the first set 2-6, the young Indian regrouped and staged another comeback, winning 6-4, 7-5 to secure his place in the final.
The ability to recover from a set down in consecutive matches demonstrated both his physical endurance and mental strength.
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The runner-up finish in Kolkata adds another strong performance to Karan’s growing record on the professional tour. Earlier this year, the 22-year-old clinched the ITF M15 Hyderabad title, marking his first professional singles title on Indian soil. In that tournament, he delivered a standout performance by defeating top seed Max Houkes of the Netherlands in straight sets in the final.
The Hyderabad triumph marked a significant milestone in Karan’s career and helped boost his confidence heading into higher-level competitions.
In recent months, Karan has also been testing himself regularly on the ATP Challenger circuit, competing in Challenger 100 and Challenger 75 events. He has made main draw appearances in tournaments held in Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, and New Delhi, gaining valuable experience against stronger fields and higher-ranked opponents.
Such exposure has been crucial in accelerating his development as he transitions from ITF-level tournaments to the more competitive Challenger Tour.
Karan’s consistent performances have also earned him recognition at the national level. His progress on the international circuit recently led to his inclusion in the Indian Davis Cup squad, further underlining his emergence as one of the country’s most promising young tennis players.
The experience of being part of the national team environment is expected to contribute significantly to his growth as he continues to refine his game.
Training at Roundglass Tennis Academy
Karan trains at the Roundglass Tennis Academy in Chandigarh, where he works on improving different aspects of his game, including physical conditioning, tactical awareness, and match temperament. The academy has played an important role in shaping his development, providing him with a structured training environment and access to international-standard facilities.
While the loss in the final may have denied him another title, Karan Singh’s performance in Kolkata reinforces his steady progress on the professional tour. His ability to compete consistently, stage comebacks in difficult matches, and challenge strong opponents indicates that he is steadily building the foundation for success at higher levels.
With continued experience and development, the young Indian appears well positioned to take the next step in his career and establish himself among the leading players of Indian tennis.
