The S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium came alive with high-intensity battles on Sunday as the qualifying rounds of the 10th Dafa News Bengaluru Open 2026 got underway, setting the tone for a week of competitive tennis.
Indian interest remained strong on the opening day, highlighted by Sidharth Rawat’s composed straight-sets victory that booked him a place in the final round of qualifying. Rawat, one of the more experienced campaigners in the Indian circuit, produced a mature performance to defeat compatriot Nitin Kumar Sinha 6-3, 7-5 in a closely watched first-round qualifying encounter. The Delhi-based player asserted control early in the match, breaking serve in the opening set to establish momentum and closing it out with confidence.
The second set proved more testing. Sinha raised his level, pressing Rawat with deeper returns and aggressive baseline play, and was rewarded with a crucial break that gave him a temporary edge. However, Rawat’s composure under pressure stood out. Drawing on his experience, he struck back with two timely service breaks, reasserting control and sealing the contest in straight sets to move within one win of a place in the main draw.
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While Rawat progressed, it was a challenging day for several other Indian players in the qualifying draw. Dev Javia and Adil Kalyanpur both delivered spirited performances but fell narrowly short in three-set encounters against higher-ranked opposition. Javia pushed Dominik Palan of the Czech Republic to the limit, eventually losing 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) in a match that swung repeatedly on fine margins. Kalyanpur, meanwhile, started strongly against Eero Vasa of Finland, taking the opening set before Vasa’s consistency and physicality proved decisive in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 loss.
Several international players also confirmed their spots in the final round of qualifying, which is scheduled for Monday morning. Advancing alongside Rawat were Kuan-Yi Lee (Chinese Taipei), Ryotaro Taguchi and Jumpei Yamasaki (Japan), Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (Malaysia), Aziz Ouakaa (Tunisia), Niels Visker (Netherlands), and French duo Arthur Reymond and Felix Balshaw. Their victories underscored the depth of the qualifying field at this ATP Challenger event, with players from across Asia and Europe making strong early impressions.
Among the notable results, Kuan-Yi Lee came through a tough three-set battle against Shinji Hazawa of Japan, while Reymond claimed a significant win over India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan in straight sets. The opening day of qualifying was set to conclude later on Sunday with Ukraine’s Yurii Dzhavakian facing France’s Alexis Gautier, rounding off a packed schedule of matches.
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Attention now shifts to the main draw, which begins on Monday afternoon, promising an exciting lineup for local fans. One of the standout fixtures will see wildcard entrant Manas Dhamne take on fifth seed Matej Dodig of Croatia, a test that will offer the young Indian valuable exposure against a seasoned international opponent.
The day’s marquee clash, however, is an all-Indian showdown between former Bengaluru Open champion Sumit Nagal and home favourite S.D. Prajwal Dev. With both players familiar with the conditions and the stakes of the tournament, the encounter is expected to draw significant attention and set the tone for the week ahead.
As the 10th edition of the Bengaluru Open gathers momentum, the blend of emerging Indian talent and experienced international campaigners once again highlights the tournament’s importance on the Challenger circuit. With qualifying nearing completion and the main draw set to begin, the stage is set for a compelling week of tennis in the city of Bengaluru.
