Karan Singh Finishes Runner-Up at M25 Solapur After Dramatic Three-Set Final Against Samir Banerjee

Karan Singh’s impressive run on the ITF circuit continued with a runner-up finish at the M25 Solapur tournament, where he lost to Samir Banerjee in a closely contested final on Sunday. 

The Indian went down 6-2, 4-6, 6-7(4) after surrendering his opening-set advantage, missing an opportunity to claim what would have been his biggest ITF singles title. Despite the disappointment, the result marked another strong week for the 23-year-old, who reached his fourth final in his last five events. Singh’s recent performances have included two M15 titles in Bali, an M25 final in Sharm El Sheikh and an M15 semifinal appearance at the same venue. His Solapur campaign further underlined his improving form after a difficult period between June and August.

The final, however, ended in frustration as Banerjee recovered from a set down to win a decisive third-set tiebreak.

Singh entered the final after defeating Thailand’s Thanapet Chanta 7-6(3), 6-2 in the semifinals. The victory secured his place in the title match and continued a remarkable run of consistency across recent tournaments.

Ranked 452 at the time of the final, Singh faced Banerjee, ranked 564, in a contest between two players who had shown strong form during the tournament. Singh made the better start, taking the opening set 6-2. His aggressive baseline game helped him establish control, putting Banerjee under pressure and positioning the Indian to move closer to the title.

However, Banerjee responded in the second set. The American, an Indian-origin player, improved his consistency and took advantage of Singh’s inability to maintain the same level of control. Banerjee won the set 6-4 to force a decider.

The momentum had shifted, and the final became increasingly tense as both players approached the deciding stages of the match.

The third set delivered the closest contest of the final, with neither player able to establish a decisive advantage. Singh had opportunities to close out the match but struggled to convert them, allowing Banerjee to remain in contention.

The match ultimately went to a tiebreak, where Banerjee held his nerve to prevail 7-4 and complete a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) comeback victory. For Singh, the defeat was particularly difficult because of the position he had established after winning the first set. His serving consistency became a concern as the match progressed, with missed first serves and double faults disrupting his rhythm. Nervousness during the closing stages also appeared to affect his execution when opportunities arose.

The final therefore represented a missed chance to secure an M25 singles title, which would have been the biggest ITF singles championship of his career, with his previous titles coming at the M15 level.

Nevertheless, reaching the final itself was another significant achievement in a season that has seen him return to form and compete consistently for titles.

Banerjee secures a breakthrough after repeated final appearances

Banerjee’s victory was also an important milestone. He entered the Solapur final after reaching the title match at three consecutive M25 tournaments earlier in the year without winning any of them. The American had negotiated difficult quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Diggy and Rejchtmann, respectively, before facing Singh for the title.

Banerjee’s game is built around a dependable serve, a strong forehand and the ability to sustain rallies. While his backhand can be inconsistent and he offers relatively limited variety, his rally tolerance and shot consistency make him a difficult opponent when he finds his rhythm. Physicality has been identified as an area of concern in his game, but his performance in Solapur demonstrated his ability to compete through demanding matches and recover from setbacks.

Against Singh, Banerjee showed the resilience required to recover after losing the first set. His improved consistency in the second set and composure in the final tiebreak ultimately proved decisive.

Singh will leave Solapur disappointed not to have converted his strong start into a title, but his recent results provide reasons for optimism. Four finals in five events represent a sustained period of high-level performance, particularly following his difficult spell between June and August.

His victories in Bali and subsequent runs in Sharm El Sheikh and Solapur suggest that he is increasingly capable of competing deep into ITF tournaments. The next challenge will be to translate that consistency into success at the M25 level. The Solapur final also offers a clear area for improvement: managing pressure in decisive moments. Maintaining first-serve accuracy, reducing double faults and converting opportunities when ahead will be essential if Singh is to turn future finals into titles.

For now, the runner-up finish adds another positive result to his recent record. Although the trophy went to Banerjee, Singh’s fourth final in five events reinforces the progress he has made and keeps him moving in the right direction on the professional circuit.