At the Dafa News Bengaluru Open Challenger 125, 18-year-old wildcard Manas Dhamne produced the defining Indian result of the season so far, stunning fifth seed Matej Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 in the opening round.
For Indian men’s tennis, the ATP Challenger Tour in 2025 was a sobering reality check. Across four Challenger events hosted in the country last year, Indian players managed to register just one singles main-draw win. It was a stark statistic that underlined the gap between promise and performance, depth and delivery. Barely a week into the 2026 Indian Challenger swing, that tally has already been matched and the manner in which it happened offers genuine cause for optimism.
Ranked 556 in the world, Dhamne knocked out a player sitting more than 300 places above him, sending a clear message that Indian tennis’ next generation is beginning to convert potential into results.
The context makes the win even more significant. Dodig enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, pushing into the top 250 and putting himself in contention for a maiden Grand Slam appearance at the Australian Open. Indoors, he had shown his credentials by taking a set off Hugo Gaston in Roanne and collecting several quality wins. On paper, this was a difficult draw for a teenage wildcard still finding his feet at Challenger level.
Dhamne, however, arrived in Bengaluru with momentum and clarity. His 2025 season included two ITF titles in Monastir, and he narrowly missed out on another last week, losing the final to Nesterov. Importantly, the latter half of last year allowed him a two-month off-season a rare luxury at this stage of a young career which he used to focus on physical conditioning and refining his game.
Stylistically, the match-up presented intrigue. Dodig possesses a strong serve and a heavy forehand, often looking to keep points short and dictate play from the baseline. His backhand can be erratic, and while he can sustain rallies, his net play remains a vulnerability. Dhamne, by contrast, thrives on absorbing pace, extending rallies, and forcing opponents into uncomfortable patterns. While pre-match expectations leaned towards Dodig winning in straight sets particularly with his serve expected to gain assistance in Bengaluru’s altitude — the contest unfolded very differently.
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The opening set was tightly contested, with Dhamne showing maturity beyond his years to edge it 7-5. Dodig responded as expected, lifting his level to take the second set 6-4, firing down aces and applying sustained pressure on the Indian’s serve. At that point, the experience and physicality of the Croatian seemed likely to tell.
Instead, the third set became a one-sided affair. Dhamne raised his intensity, improved his return depth, and began exposing Dodig’s movement and consistency. The teenager raced through the decider 6-1, breaking repeatedly and refusing to let Dodig settle into rhythm. Even as Dodig finished the match with 12 aces, it was Dhamne’s grit, discipline, and court coverage that ultimately proved decisive.
Beyond the result itself, the win carries broader significance. Indian players have often struggled to make an impact in home Challengers, where wildcards and qualifiers face seasoned professionals accustomed to higher levels of competition. Dhamne’s performance suggests a growing readiness among India’s young players to compete, not merely participate, at this level.
Now through to the round of 16, Dhamne will face the winner of the all-Asian clash between India’s Aryan Shah and Kazakhstan’s Beibit Zhukayev. Whatever the outcome, his victory over Dodig has already ensured that the Bengaluru Open has delivered a narrative Indian tennis has been waiting for one where a teenager steps onto a Challenger court and belongs.
In a sport where progress is often incremental and unforgiving, Manas Dhamne’s Bengaluru upset stands out as both a result and a signal. Indian men’s tennis may still have a long road ahead, but for the first time in a while, the direction feels encouraging.
