It was a rollercoaster day for Indian Doubles tennis on the international doubles circuit, with dramatic matches unfolding at both the ATP 500 event in London and the Challenger in Nottingham.
While Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan emerged victorious in thrilling fashion, Yuki Bhambri narrowly missed out in a heart-breaking super tiebreak. Here’s a full roundup of the Indian performances:
Yuki Bhambri and Robert Galloway Fall Just Short in London
After being granted a lucky loser entry into the main draw of the ATP 500 Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club in London, Yuki Bhambri and American partner Robert Galloway made the most of their opportunity, pushing the formidable team of Taylor Fritz (USA) and Jiri Lehecka (CZE) to the brink.
In a tightly contested first-round clash, Bhambri and Galloway took the opening set 6-4, showcasing sharp returning and composed net play. However, Fritz and Lehecka responded in dominant fashion, taking the second set 6-1 with more aggressive court positioning and big serves.
The match went down to a match tiebreaker, where both teams exchanged mini-breaks. Despite saving multiple match points, Bhambri and Galloway ultimately fell just short, losing 6-4, 1-6, [8-10].
While the loss was tough to digest, the Indo-American pair can take heart from their fighting performance against two top singles players. For Bhambri, who is working his way back up the ATP doubles rankings, matches like these provide valuable experience and confidence on the grass.
Rohan Bopanna and Sander Gille Through to Quarterfinals
India’s veteran doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna had a more successful outing at the same event, partnering with Sander Gille of Belgium. The Indo-Belgian duo began their campaign by defeating British pair Dan Evans and Henry Searle in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, to qualify for the main draw.
In their opening round match later that day, Bopanna and Gille faced an exciting young duo Holger Rune (DEN) and Jakub Mensik (CZE) in a match that turned out to be a dramatic affair.
Both sets were extremely close, each heading into tiebreaks. Bopanna and Gille clinched the first set 7-6, lost the second by the same margin 6-7, and then held their nerve in the deciding match tiebreak, eventually prevailing [10-6].
This result takes the pair into the quarterfinals, where they will meet the winners of the match between Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard/Rajeev Ram and the all-British team of Julian Cash/Lloyd Glasspool.
For Bopanna, now 44 years old and still playing elite-level tennis, this win is a testament to his continued presence among the best doubles players in the world. Teaming with Gille, he looks to be building momentum heading into the rest of the grass-court swing.
Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Johannus Monday Edge Through in Nottingham
Away from the glamour of the ATP 500, another Indian success story was unfolding at the ATP Challenger in Nottingham.
Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, teaming up with British player Johannus Monday, won a dramatic round-of-16 match against the strong pairing of Hendrik Jebens (GER) and Albano Olivetti (FRA).
After splitting the first two sets 6-4, 1-6, the match came down to a match tiebreak that tested nerves and resilience. Nedunchezhiyan and Monday held firm, saving match points before clinching a nail-biting 13-11 victory.
This result puts the Indo-British team into the quarterfinals of Nottingham 2, and adds another strong showing for Nedunchezhiyan, who has consistently delivered on the Challenger Tour. With the grass-court season offering multiple opportunities in Britain, a good run here could boost his doubles ranking and lead to more main draw opportunities at higher-tier events.
Looking Ahead
- Rohan Bopanna/Sander Gille will aim to carry their form into the quarterfinals in London as they chase another big title.
- Yuki Bhambri and Robert Galloway, despite the narrow loss, will regroup quickly for upcoming events as the grass-court swing continues.
- Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan will look to build on his momentum in Nottingham and eye a spot in the semifinals.
Conclusion
Indian tennis had its fair share of close contests on Wednesday some won, some lost but the performances collectively reflect the competitive spirit and progress of Indian doubles players on the world stage. From Bopanna’s experience on the ATP Tour to Nedunchezhiyan’s grit at the Challenger level, and Bhambri’s valiant fight in a tough draw, the week has been a solid one for India’s representation in global tennis.
As Wimbledon looms large, these grass-court results are encouraging signs for Indian fans, with several players knocking on the doors of deeper runs and potential Grand Slam success.
