Top seeds Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro underlined their growing chemistry on the ATP Challenger circuit by capturing the doubles title at the Chennai Open ATP Challenger 2026 at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam, on Saturday.
The Indo-Thai pairing defeated Great Britain’s Jay Clarke and India’s Mukund Sasikumar 6-4, 6-4 in a composed final to lift their second ATP Challenger title together.
Composed Finish After Early Pressure
Poonacha and Isaro were tested early in the contest as Clarke and Sasikumar secured the first break of serve. However, the top seeds responded with controlled aggression, breaking back swiftly and tightening their service games. Their improved net positioning and sharper returns allowed them to turn the momentum around and claim the opening set 6-4.
The second set followed a similar pattern. A single break of serve proved decisive as Poonacha and Isaro protected their lead with disciplined serving and efficient finishing at the net. The pair closed out the match 6-4, 6-4, capping a consistent week in which they rarely allowed opponents extended openings.
The victory marked the seventh ATP Challenger doubles title of Poonacha’s career and the fourth for Isaro. It also represents their second title as a team, following their triumph at the Shanghai Challenger in 2025. Their growing partnership has steadily developed into one of the more reliable combinations on the Challenger circuit.
The win in Chennai also builds on their recent momentum, having made their Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open last month a significant milestone in both players’ careers. For their efforts, the champions earned 50 ATP ranking points and a prize purse of USD 2,980. Clarke and Sasikumar, who impressed with their run to the final, collected 30 ranking points and USD 1,740 as runners-up.
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While the doubles title was decided on Saturday, attention now shifts to Sunday’s singles final, which promises an intriguing contest between second seed Federico Agustin Gomez and sixth seed Frederico Ferreira Silva.
Gomez reached the final after a hard-fought three-set victory over Poland’s Maks Kasnikowski. The Argentine won 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a two-hour, 18-minute semifinal that tested his resilience. After taking control in the opening set, Gomez was forced onto the back foot in the second before regrouping to edge a tight decider.
Ranked No. 196 in the world, the 29-year-old struck 37 winners during the match, nearly doubling Kasnikowski’s tally. His ability to dictate play from the baseline and maintain composure under pressure proved decisive in the closing stages. Gomez now stands one win away from claiming his fifth ATP Challenger singles title.
Awaiting him is Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva, who has been one of the most efficient performers of the week. Ferreira Silva advanced with a clinical 6-4, 6-2 victory over fourth seed Ilia Simakin, halting the Russian’s nine-match winning streak on the Challenger Tour.
Notably, Ferreira Silva did not face a single break point during the semifinal, highlighting the consistency and reliability of his serve. Ranked No. 255, the Portuguese has not dropped a set throughout the tournament and enters the final in strong form. He will be chasing his maiden ATP Challenger singles title.
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Sunday’s singles final, scheduled for 3 pm, carries significant ranking implications. The champion will collect 50 ATP ranking points, while the runner-up will earn 25 points valuable currency in the race for upward movement on the Challenger ladder. With Gomez bringing experience and proven title-winning pedigree, and Ferreira Silva arriving with momentum and a flawless run through the draw, the stage is set for a compelling finish to the Chennai Open 2026.
As the curtain prepares to fall at Nungambakkam, the doubles champions have already stamped their authority. Now, the singles crown remains to be claimed in what promises to be a tightly contested finale.
