Indian tennis reached another important milestone this week as Yuki Bhambri climbed to a career-high World No. 20 in the latest ATP Doubles Rankings, becoming the first Indian man since Rohan Bopanna to enter the prestigious Top 20.
The 33-year-old Roundglass Tennis Academy athlete rose two places from No. 22, officially establishing himself as India’s highest-ranked doubles player and one of the elite specialists on the global circuit. Bhambri’s rise is the culmination of a sustained period of excellence that has seen him emerge as one of the most consistent doubles performers on tour over the past 12 months. His breakthrough into the Top 20 is not a one-off spike but the reward for a body of work that includes Grand Slam runs, ATP titles and repeated victories over the world’s best pairs.
Australian Open run provides the final push
The ranking jump was secured after Bhambri’s impressive performance at the 2026 Australian Open, where he partnered André Göransson of Sweden. The Indo-Swedish duo advanced to the third round, collecting vital points that pushed Bhambri past the Top-20 barrier.
Their campaign began with a professional opening-round victory over Australian wildcards James Duckworth and Cruz Hewitt, before producing one of the standout comebacks of the tournament. Facing experienced campaigners Santiago González and David Pel, Bhambri and Göransson fought back from a set down to claim a gripping 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory, displaying the resilience and composure that has defined Bhambri’s recent run.
They eventually bowed out in the third round after a narrow defeat to the Brazilian pairing of Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos, losing 6-7(7), 3-6 in a match that swung on fine margins.
While the loss was disappointing, the points gained proved enough to elevate Bhambri into the Top 20 — a landmark moment for both player and country.
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Bhambri’s journey to this milestone has been anything but straightforward. Once one of India’s brightest singles prospects, injuries forced him to recalibrate his career, and his move to doubles has proven to be one of the most successful reinventions in Indian tennis in recent years.
The real momentum began in 2025, a season that marked his arrival as a world-class doubles specialist. Bhambri reached the US Open semifinals alongside New Zealand’s Michael Venus, pushing the fourth-seeded British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski to the limit after holding a set and break advantage before narrowly falling short.
That run alone confirmed Bhambri’s ability to compete with the very best. What followed made it impossible to ignore.
Breakthrough ATP 500 triumph in Dubai
In March 2025, Bhambri captured his first ATP 500 title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, partnering Alexei Popyrin of Australia. The pair produced one of the most dramatic finals of the season, saving four match points to defeat reigning Grand Slam champions Harri Heliövaara and Henry Patten 3-6, 7-6(12), 10-8.
That victory was symbolic not just because of the level of opposition, but because it showcased Bhambri’s big-match temperament under extreme pressure. Winning an ATP 500 against the world’s best pairs placed him firmly in the conversation among the sport’s elite doubles players.
It also allowed him to become India’s No. 1 doubles player, ending Rohan Bopanna’s 286-week reign at the top of the national rankings a generational shift in Indian men’s doubles.
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Bhambri’s entry into the Top 20 represents more than a personal achievement. It is a significant marker for Indian tennis in the post-Bopanna era. While India has produced multiple world-class doubles players over the years, sustaining a Top-20 presence requires not just one big result, but consistency across ATP 250s, 500s, and Grand Slams — something Bhambri has now proven he can deliver.
His current ranking also gives him access to higher-level events, ensuring he continues to compete against the best pairs week after week, further strengthening his position on tour.
Bhambri is set to continue his push during the ATP 500 Middle East swing, where strong results could propel him even further up the rankings. Those tournaments will also serve as crucial preparation ahead of his return to national duty for India’s Davis Cup Qualifiers tie against the Netherlands later this month.
With India seeking to recreate past Davis Cup upsets, Bhambri’s presence as a Top-20 doubles player gives the team a genuine weapon in the doubles rubber often the decisive point in closely contested ties.
At 33, Yuki Bhambri has reached the peak of his career not by following the expected path, but by reinventing himself and mastering one of the most demanding disciplines in professional tennis. Breaking into the ATP Top 20 is not the end of the journey but it firmly establishes him as one of the finest doubles players India has produced in the modern era.
