At just 18 years of age, Manas Dhamne is beginning to look less like a promising junior and more like a genuine Challenger-level professional.
On a humid evening in Manama, the Indian teenager produced one of the biggest wins of his young career, coming back from a set down to defeat top seed and world No. 259 Benjamin Hassan in the opening round of qualifying at the ATP 125 Bahrain Challenger. It was Dhamne’s second biggest win by ranking and another clear signal that his transition into men’s tennis is accelerating.
Ranked No. 502 in the world, Dhamne was facing a seasoned campaigner in Hassan, a Lebanese-born German who has spent years grinding his way through Challengers and ATP qualifying events. Hassan came into the match as the No. 1 seed in qualifying, a player with far more experience, physical maturity and match mileage. Yet none of that mattered once the rally exchanges began to tilt in Dhamne’s favour.
The Indian youngster had to earn it the hard way. After dropping the opening set, he dug in, raised his level and gradually turned the match on its head. What stood out was not just the comeback, but the way in which he engineered it. Dhamne’s backhand was rock-solid throughout, repeatedly absorbing Hassan’s pace and redirecting it with depth and precision. His forehand, often the wing that young players struggle to control under pressure, held up well, especially in longer baseline exchanges where Hassan tried to dictate with heavy topspin.
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Most encouraging was Dhamne’s ability to problem-solve in real time. Hassan is a player who thrives on extended rallies, using his excellent backhand and deft drop shots to move opponents around. In the first set, those patterns were working. Dhamne was being forced to defend, chase and reset far too often. From the second set onwards, however, the Indian started reading Hassan’s intentions far better. He began stepping inside the court on the Lebanese player’s weaker forehand, taking time away and preventing him from settling into the long grinding points he prefers.
While Dhamne’s serve is still a work in progress, it made a noticeable impact after the first set. On a low-altitude hard court where free points are harder to come by, he found enough accuracy on first serve to get out of trouble and avoid being dragged into endless rallies. That, combined with improved endurance and court coverage, allowed him to sustain a high level deep into the match.
This win did not come out of nowhere. Dhamne has opened the 2026 season in strong form, beginning with a breakout run at the Bengaluru Open, where he upset big servers Matej Dodig and Beibit Zhukayev on his way to his maiden Challenger quarter-final. Those victories were notable because they showed he could handle raw power, but the Hassan win adds another layer to his growing profile. Here, he beat a tactically savvy, rally-heavy opponent on a surface that did not offer him many cheap points.
That is precisely the kind of victory that builds belief on the Challenger Tour.
For Indian tennis, Dhamne’s rise is especially significant. At 18, he is already mixing it with players ranked in the 200s and pushing his way into ATP Challenger main draws. The gap between junior success and professional relevance is one of the hardest bridges to cross in tennis, and Dhamne is doing it faster than most.
Next up is an even more crucial test. To qualify for the Manama Challenger main draw, Dhamne will face Norway’s Viktor Durasovic, ranked No. 329 and seeded seventh in qualifying. Durasovic is a very different challenge a physically strong, aggressive baseliner who is comfortable finishing points at the net. If Hassan tested Dhamne’s patience and shot tolerance, Durasovic will test his ability to absorb pace and counterattack under pressure.
But after the way Dhamne handled Hassan, there is genuine reason to believe he belongs at this level. His movement, particularly laterally, has improved, allowing him to retrieve and reset points rather than panic. His backhand, already one of his strongest assets, is now becoming a genuine weapon, capable of both defending and dictating. And perhaps most importantly, his mental composure in tight moments is beginning to look like that of a seasoned pro rather than a teenager finding his way.
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These are exactly the kinds of wins that can change a career trajectory. A few more results like this, and Dhamne will not just be sneaking into Challenger main draws he will be competing in them regularly. With consistency, a move into the top 300, and then the top 250, is no longer a distant dream. That would put Grand Slam qualifying well within reach as early as next year.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on Manama. One more win stands between Manas Dhamne and another milestone on his rapidly evolving journey.
If his performance against Benjamin Hassan is anything to go by, he will walk onto court against Viktor Durasovic with confidence, momentum and the growing belief that he is ready for this level of tennis.
