In the scenic city of Brașov, Romania, Indian tennis had a moment to cheer and it came from the racket of a 17-year-old wildcard.
Manas Dhamne, one of India’s most promising young talents, delivered a career-defining victory at the ATP 75 Brasov Challenger, defeating World No. 282 Christoph Negritu of Germany in a dramatic three-set battle: 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).
More than just a scoreline, it was a display of resilience, heart, and clutch play under pressure a win that could well mark the beginning of Manas’s breakthrough on the professional tour.
Grit, Guts, and Glory in 2 Hours and 38 Minutes
Entering the tournament ranked ATP #742, Manas was handed a wildcard into the main draw, a sign of the faith tournament organizers have in his talent. But standing across the net was a seasoned German, Negritu, who was enjoying good form and came in as the clear favorite.
The opening set was one-way traffic, as Negritu’s heavy baseline play and experience helped him breeze through 6-2. Manas looked outmatched but only for a while.
From the second set onward, the tide began to turn. Manas started serving with more purpose, holding tighter to his baseline exchanges, and pushing Negritu deeper into rallies. A solitary break was enough to help him clinch the second set 6-4, and suddenly, the wildcard had life.
The third set, however, was a rollercoaster.
Negritu raced to a 4-1 lead, and at 5-4, he held three match points on Manas’s serve. But the teenager refused to blink. He dug deep, saved all three match points with nerveless precision, and pushed the set into a tiebreak. There, he found another level—mixing aggression with composure to seal the breaker 7-3.
What followed was an emotional celebration from a player who had just earned his first ATP Challenger main draw victory and in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a moment of arrival for Manas Dhamne. The Brasov match checked multiple milestones:
- ✅ First-ever main draw win at the ATP Challenger level
- ✅ Highest-ranked opponent beaten (ATP #282)
- ✅ First comeback win from a set down at this level
- ✅ Saved 3 match points and recovered from 1-4 down in the deciding set
- ✅ Proved clutch in a 2-hour 38-minute pressure-cooker
Information Courtesy IndianTennisDaily
Wins like these aren’t just about points or rankings. They’re about belief. And for Manas, who has been grinding it out on the junior and ITF circuits, this victory signals his readiness to challenge at higher levels.
Trained for the Big Stage
Manas may be young, but he’s not new to international tennis. A product of the Piatti Tennis Center in Italy, he has trained under some of the most reputed coaches in Europe. His game — built on a strong serve, explosive forehand, and all-court coverage has long been touted as suited for faster courts and professional-level intensity.
What’s often missing in young players is mental resilience, and that’s precisely what he showed in Romania. To save three match points and turn around a 1-4 deficit in the final set tiebreak against a top-300 opponent speaks volumes of his temperament.
Next Up: Tom Paris
Manas now moves into the Round of 16, where he will face Tom Paris (ATP #391) of France. On paper, it’s a match he can definitely win. Paris has been inconsistent of late and was pushed hard in his opening round. Dhamne’s counterpunching game and confidence from this win could very well carry him to the quarterfinals.
Importantly, this is also a chance to build momentum and earn valuable ATP points critical for a player trying to rise through the ranks without consistent direct entries into Challengers.
Why This Win Matters for Indian Tennis
For Indian tennis, which is in a transitional phase with younger players trying to fill the void left by veterans like Somdev, Paes, and Bopanna (in singles), Manas represents hope.
He’s still only 17, but this victory on clay, against an in-form and much higher-ranked opponent — shows he has the tools and the mindset for the big league. With fellow Indian juniors like Aryan Shah, Nishant Dabas, and others making strides, this win puts Manas right at the forefront of India’s next-gen wave.
And unlike previous generations, Manas is growing up on the Challenger circuit rather than just juniors, making the transition to the pro tour smoother and more sustainable.
The goal now is consistency. Winning one Challenger match is great, but stringing together multiple wins, getting into quarterfinals and semifinals regularly, and eventually earning ATP Tour qualifications is the real path forward.
His training base in Italy, match exposure across Europe, and growing maturity on court all indicate that Manas Dhamne has a well-structured pathway in place. With support from Indian tennis authorities, private sponsors, and continued coaching from the Piatti setup, he has all the ingredients to succeed.
In a week where Indian tennis needed a spark, Manas Dhamne delivered a moment of magic. From staring at defeat to celebrating his biggest career win yet, he reminded us why sport is so unpredictable and so beautiful.
He’s young. He’s fearless. He’s Indian.
And he’s just getting started.
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