Indian tennis has long been defined by celebrated doubles champions and a few standout singles players, but a quieter, determined shift is taking place embodied by 22-year-old Karan Singh, who in July 2025 reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 401.
This ascent doesn’t just mark personal achievement; it also makes Singh India’s new No. 2 men’s singles player, behind Sumit Nagal (World No. 307). It’s the story of a player who chose the longer, harder route: prioritizing singles, embracing the challenge of the ATP Challenger circuit, and carrying the weight of wanting to redefine Indian tennis from within.
From Steady Steps to a National Breakthrough
Born on June 30, 2003, Singh started playing tennis at age 11. Standing at 1.88 m and coached by Aditya Sachdeva, he has steadily built his career rather than relying on a sudden breakthrough. His year-end ATP singles rankings tell a clear story: from No. 1947 in 2021 to No. 917 in 2022, then No. 803 in 2023, and finally jumping to No. 467 at the end of 2024. But it’s what happened over the next seven months from January to July 2025 that truly defined his standing in Indian tennis.
By July 28, 2025, Singh had reached No. 401 his best yet. In the same week, he also climbed to No. 436 in doubles, thanks in part to his ATP Challenger doubles title in Brazzaville in late 2024 with partner Florent Bax. Yet despite occasional success in doubles, Singh has always been unambiguous about his goal: “I’m a singles player. that is what I want to be.”
This ranking progression is significant in more ways than one. First, it shows consistency: not just a single good run, but a clear multi-year climb. Second, it marks a change in the profile of India’s top male players, as Singh becomes a part of the conversation traditionally dominated by veterans or players with more tour exposure.
Surface, Strategy, and Statistics: Understanding His Game
Singh’s rise isn’t accidental; it’s built on decisions and results backed by numbers. From August 2024 to July 2025, he played 52 matches and won 65% (34–18). But the story becomes clearer when broken down by surface: a remarkable 90% win rate on clay courts (9–1), versus a 59% win rate (24–17) on hard courts which still dominate the pro tour. That contrast reflects both an advantage and a future challenge: Singh is already highly competitive on clay but must adapt further to hard courts to break into higher ATP echelons.
In 2025 alone, Singh played across multiple tournament tiers. At the M15 level the entry tier on the ITF circuit he was dominant: two titles, 21 wins, and just four losses. At M25 events, he showed promise, with an 8–5 record. But at Challenger level, which marks the gateway to the ATP Tour, Singh faced stiffer challenges: an overall 2–7 record, with several first-round exits.
Importantly, those numbers also show progress: in July 2025 at the Astana 5 Challenger, he secured a notable win over Ivan Gakhov (ATP No. 270), demonstrating he can beat higher-ranked opponents a crucial confidence boost at this stage.
Key Tournament Moments: Beyond Numbers
Two titles defined Singh’s singles year:
- His first 2025 M15 title in Tehran, Iran, beating Aleksandr Lobanov 7–6, 6–2 in May.
- The M15 Monastir title in July, won in dominant fashion, 6–0, 6–2.
He also reached two other finals: in Tashkent (losing to R. Tokuda) and another in Tehran (losing to A. Yazdani). These deep runs built ranking points and match toughness, but more importantly, reflected the pattern of a player who is clearly too strong for the M15 circuit and ready for more.
On the Challenger stage the tougher proving ground Singh’s journey was rockier. After qualifying for the Bengaluru Challenger main draw with good wins over Aryan Shah and Yurii Dzhavakian, he lost narrowly to J. Rodionov (ATP No. 218) in three sets. Early exits followed at the Pune, New Delhi, and Chennai Challengers against players inside the ATP top 300. Yet these losses offered lessons, as his coach Sachdeva noted: “The ranking jump is not just physical; it’s about tactical maturity and mental resilience.”
Singh’s decision to keep playing Challengers despite initial setbacks shows long-term thinking choosing growth over short-term comfort.
Mindset: Choosing Singles Over Doubles
In Indian tennis, doubles success often overshadows singles. Even Singh’s ATP Challenger doubles title in Brazzaville could have pushed him toward doubles-focused scheduling, but he resisted. His philosophy is clear: singles is the goal. “Of course not doubles. I’m mostly focusing on singles and that is what I want to be.”
Breakthrough in Astana: Karan Singh Stuns 3rd Seed to Reach Maiden Challenger Quarterfinal
This decision aligns with his broader ambition: not just personal rankings, but raising the standard of Indian men’s singles. Singh is candid about wanting to prove that Indian players can do more in singles, and that self-belief sets him apart.
Representing India: A Davis Cup Debut
February 2025 brought another milestone: Singh made his Davis Cup debut for India in the World Group I Playoff, helping secure a 4–0 win. It was symbolic: a player who has trained largely on his own path now representing the national team, gaining experience under pressure, and playing not just for points or prize money but for country.
By July 28, 2025, Singh had earned $63,590 in combined singles and doubles prize money, with $19,304 coming in 2025 alone. For context, these aren’t numbers that transform life off the court but they matter for travel, training, and tournament entries. Financial realities in lower-ranked pro tennis are tough, and making a living while climbing the rankings remains a challenge another reason why Singh’s commitment to singles, despite its slower rewards, deserves recognition.
Looking Forward: From No. 401 to Top 300?
Standing as India’s No. 2 singles player, Singh now has clear goals: break into the ATP top 300 and then aim higher. The path won’t be linear. His coach and his own reflections show understanding: hard courts require improvement, Challenger matches demand mental toughness, and match scheduling will need strategic balance between lower-tier events (where wins are likely) and higher-tier events (where the real ranking jumps happen).
His best weapon is the Forehand that brought him here: willing to lose at a higher level today to win bigger tomorrow.
Beyond Rankings: Why Karan Singh Matters
Singh’s story isn’t just about being India’s new No. 2. It’s about redefining what that means: not waiting for a wildcard or hoping for a breakthrough, but systematically earning it match by match, surface by surface. It’s about challenging the idea that Indian tennis must live in doubles shadows and proving that patient, deliberate progress in singles is possible.
At just 22, Karan Singh has time, ambition, and a clear sense of purpose. His climb to World No. 401 and the title of India’s second-ranked player is more than a ranking: it’s a statement of what Indian tennis can become.
As he continues his push on the Challenger Tour, every match will test him further. But with each challenge, he carries the promise of reshaping Indian tennis from the inside one baseline rally, one clay-court grind, and one ranking point at a time.
📸 Sources: Karan Singh’s season data, ATP, ITF, coach interviews
