India’s campaign at the WTT Star Contender Chennai gathered momentum on Saturday as Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade powered into the mixed doubles final, while G Sathiyan produced a gritty comeback to enter the men’s singles quarterfinals for the first time at this level.
With the business end of the tournament unfolding at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, the home contingent experienced both highs and setbacks, but the day firmly belonged to Desai, Ghorpade and Sathiyan.
Clinical Display in Mixed Doubles
Fourth seeds Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade were in complete control in their all-Indian mixed doubles semifinal against wildcard pair Payas Jain and Syndrela Das. The experienced duo secured a straight-games victory, winning 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-9).
Although the opening game was competitive, Desai and Ghorpade managed the crucial exchanges with composure, taking control of rallies through sharp placement and effective serve variations. Once ahead, they tightened their receiving game and dictated tempo, especially in the second game where they pulled away decisively.
The third game saw Jain and Das attempt a late surge, but Desai’s quick transitions at the table and Ghorpade’s consistency in counter-rallies ensured there was no comeback. The pair sealed their place in the final without conceding a game.
In the title clash, they will face second seeds Eduard Ionescu and Bernadette Szocs of Romania. The Romanian pair advanced under unusual circumstances after their semifinal opponents Oh Junsung of Korea and Miku Nagasaki of Japan conceded the match while trailing 1-2 due to injury concerns.
For Desai and Ghorpade, the final represents an opportunity to convert steady performances into a marquee title on home soil.
Sathiyan’s Resilience Shines
In men’s singles, G Sathiyan kept India’s challenge alive with a spirited 3-2 win over Romania’s Eduard Ionescu in the pre-quarterfinals. The 10th seed came from behind to win 9-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5 in a match that tested both temperament and tactical adaptability.
Sathiyan began cautiously, conceding the opening game before responding strongly in the second with aggressive forehand play and improved control in short exchanges. However, Ionescu regained the advantage by edging a tight third game 12-10.
At 1-2 down, Sathiyan recalibrated. He increased variation in spin and length, forcing errors from the Romanian and extending rallies where needed. The fourth game swung decisively in his favour, and in the decider, Sathiyan maintained pressure from the outset to close out the contest.
The victory marks his first appearance in the quarterfinals of a WTT Star Contender event — a milestone in his professional career. He will next face Lubomir Jancarik of Czechia, who ended Manush Shah’s run with a 3-1 (11-4, 13-11, 5-11, 13-11) win.
End of the Road for Snehit and Nithya
Earlier in the day, Snehit Suravajjula’s impressive campaign concluded in the Round of 16. The Indian, who had staged a dramatic upset in the previous round, went down 3-1 (11-6, 10-12, 15-13, 11-7) to top seed Oh Junsung of Korea.
Snehit competed strongly, particularly in the extended third game that went 15-13, but the Korean’s consistency in critical phases proved decisive. Oh, however, later withdrew from his quarterfinal against Frenchman Thibault Poret after sustaining an injury during the mixed doubles semifinal.
India’s women’s singles challenge also came to an end. Qualifier Nithya Mani fought hard against fourth seed Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei but fell 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8). Nithya showed flashes of attacking intent, especially in the opening game, but Cheng’s superior control in mid-distance rallies gradually tilted the match.
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As the tournament heads into its decisive phase, India remain strongly represented in mixed doubles and men’s singles. Desai and Ghorpade will now aim to convert their dominant semifinal display into a championship finish, while Sathiyan seeks to extend his breakthrough run.
With home support firmly behind them, the Indian contingent has ensured that local interest will remain high deep into the weekend.
