Indian tennis experienced a day of contrasting fortunes at the 10th Dafa News Bengaluru Open 2026, with Dhakshineswar Suresh delivering a statement performance to move into the Round of 16, while Karan Singh and Aryan Shah saw their campaigns end in the opening round at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium on Tuesday.
Towering at 6 feet 6 inches, Dhakshineswar Suresh showcased exactly why he is regarded as one of India’s most promising hard-court prospects, cruising past Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic 6-4, 6-4 in a controlled and authoritative display.
From the outset, Suresh imposed himself with a thunderous serve, firing down 20 aces and consistently earning cheap points to keep his opponent under pressure. The Indian, who made his Davis Cup debut last year, broke early in the opening set by stepping inside the baseline and attacking Ajdukovic’s second serve. Once ahead, he barely put a foot wrong, backing up the break with assured service games to close the set without drama.
The second set offered a sterner test as Ajdukovic improved his first-serve percentage, but Suresh remained patient and disciplined. A crucial break in the fifth game, engineered through heavy forehands and deep returns, tilted the set decisively in his favour. From there, the Indian served out the match with composure, underlining his growing maturity on the ATP Challenger circuit.
“I really love the place and the conditions,” Suresh said after the match. “I just aimed to go out there and play my style and control the controllables. My serve is one of my biggest weapons, and I’ve worked on it a lot over the last few years. I’m happy I could rely on it today.”
With conditions suiting his aggressive game and confidence visibly high, Suresh now looks well-placed to build momentum as the tournament progresses.
Tough Losses for Karan Singh and Aryan Shah
While Suresh surged ahead, it was a more challenging day for India’s other singles contenders.
Karan Singh ran into a sharp and experienced opponent in Borna Gojo of Croatia. The former top-100 player used his power and depth to dictate play, defeating Karan 6-2, 6-4. Despite moments of resistance from the Indian, Gojo’s superior serving and ability to control rallies from the back of the court proved decisive, especially in the key points.
Aryan Shah also bowed out in straight sets, falling 6-1, 6-2 to Kazakhstan’s Beibit Zhukayev. Zhukayev’s clean ball-striking and relentless baseline pressure gave Aryan little room to settle into the contest, as the Kazakh wrapped up the match efficiently.
Though disappointing, these losses underline the fine margins at Challenger level, where exposure to higher-ranked and physically stronger opponents often becomes a steep learning curve for young Indian players.
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The day also saw several international players advance to the Round of 16. Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe mounted an impressive comeback to defeat seventh seed Max Houkes of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while Eric Vanshelboim (Ukraine), Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (Malaysia), and Felix Balshaw (France) progressed through their respective first-round encounters.
Later in the evening, top seed Pedro Martinez of Spain was scheduled to take on Finland’s Eero Vasa, adding further intrigue to a packed opening week.
There was positive news for Indian fans in the doubles draw. The experienced duo of Saketh Myneni and Adil Kalyanpur edged out a strong pairing of Lloyd Harris (South Africa) and Sumit Nagal (India) in a thrilling contest, winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 13-11 to reach the quarter-finals. Third seeds Arthur Reymond and Luca Sanchez of France also moved ahead, along with Nicolas Barrientos (Colombia) and Benjamin Kittay (USA), as doubles action got underway.
While Karan Singh and Aryan Shah will take valuable lessons from their early exits, Dhakshineswar Suresh’s commanding win stood out as the highlight of the day for Indian tennis. His blend of power, patience, and tactical clarity suggests a player growing comfortably into the demands of high-level professional tennis.
As the Bengaluru Open unfolds, Indian interest will now center firmly on Suresh and whether his serve-led dominance can carry him deeper into one of the country’s most important Challenger events.
