Indian trio advance as Karnataka Open 2026 heats up

It was a day defined by balance between youth and experience as India staged a strong response at the ATP Karnataka Open (Bengaluru 2 Challenger), with three players advancing to the Round of 16 after a difficult opening day.

Following three early exits in the main draw on Day 1, the Indian contingent needed a response, and it came through a mix of composure, discipline and controlled aggression across matches.

Veteran Mukund Sasikumar provided the early momentum for the home side, overcoming Malaysia’s Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong in a composed performance. Ranked 524 in the world, Sasikumar entered the contest with a slight edge and justified that status with a structured display from the baseline. He controlled rallies effectively and kept his error count low, allowing him to dictate the pace of the match.

The only moment of concern came in the second set when Sasikumar, serving for the match at 5-4, dropped his serve. However, the 29-year-old quickly reset and produced a dominant tiebreak performance, winning it 7-1 to close out the match.

The result sends Sasikumar into the Round of 16, where he will face second seed Hamish Stewart in what promises to be a more demanding test.

Sureshkumar Maintains Control Against Karki

Manish Sureshkumar followed up with a disciplined straight-sets win against qualifier Ronit Karki, continuing India’s strong showing on Court 1.

Karki had entered the main draw without dropping a set in qualifying and appeared in good rhythm. However, Sureshkumar disrupted that momentum early by breaking at 3-3 in the first set. The 26-year-old from Tamil Nadu was particularly efficient on serve, not facing a single break point throughout the match. His ability to hold comfortably allowed him to play freely on return games.

While he was unable to convert multiple break point opportunities in the second set, Sureshkumar remained composed in the tiebreak, sealing a 6-4, 7-6(7) win. His serving consistency and control in key moments proved decisive. 

The standout performance of the day came from 19-year-old wildcard Kriish Tyagi, who impressed in his ATP Challenger main draw debut. Facing Japan’s Taiyo Yamanaka, who was ranked significantly higher, Tyagi showed no signs of hesitation. He broke serve in the opening game and maintained that advantage throughout the first set, winning it 6-2.

In the second set, the match became more competitive, but Tyagi held firm. Crucially, he did not drop serve at any stage of the match, underlining his composure under pressure. He eventually closed out the contest 6-2, 7-5.

The win marks a significant step in Tyagi’s development, and he now faces another Japanese opponent, Yuta Kawahashi, in the next round. 

Despite the three wins, it was not an entirely positive day for the Indian contingent, with four players exiting the tournament. Digvijaypratap Singh came closest to progressing but fell short in a tight contest against Australia’s Philip Sekulic, losing both sets in tiebreaks. The narrow margins highlighted how competitive the match was, but Digvijaypratap was unable to convert key points.

S D Prajwal Dev had a more difficult outing, going down 6-1, 6-4 to Joshua Charlton, while qualifier Aditya Vishal Balsekar lost 6-2, 6-2 against Amit Vales.

The most significant setback for India came in the form of Karan Singh’s exit. One of the higher-ranked Indian players in the draw, Karan was expected to progress but lost to Japan’s Kokoro Isomura. Karan started well but could not capitalise on early opportunities. The first set was decided in a tiebreak, where Isomura edged ahead 7-6(6). The momentum shifted further in the second set, with the Japanese player breaking at 4-3 before closing out the match 6-3.

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The result leaves a gap in India’s challenge, particularly in the absence of higher-ranked players progressing deeper into the draw.

With the conclusion of Day 2, Mukund Sasikumar, Manish Sureshkumar and Kriish Tyagi remain the only Indian players in the singles draw. Each of them represents a different phase of India’s tennis structure experience, consistency, and emerging talent and their progression keeps local interest alive in the tournament.

The Round of 16 will present a step up in competition, with tougher opponents awaiting all three players. Sasikumar faces a seeded opponent, while Tyagi’s next match will test his ability to maintain consistency against higher-ranked opposition. For Sureshkumar, the focus will remain on sustaining his serving efficiency while improving conversion on return games.

As the tournament progresses, India’s hopes will rest on this trio to extend their run and maintain presence in the later stages of the Bengaluru Challenger.