Mukund Sasikumar Marches Into SM Krishna Memorial Open Quarterfinals as Kriish Tyagi Impresses Again
Indian tennis player Mukund Sasikumar continued his strong run at the SM Krishna Memorial Open in Bengaluru, becoming the lone Indian singles player to reach the quarterfinals after defeating Japanese qualifier Taiyo Yamanaka in straight sets on Wednesday.
At the same time, teenage wildcard Kriish Tyagi once again showed why he is regarded as one of India’s brightest young prospects, pushing third seed Hamish Stewart in a high-quality three-set battle before eventually falling short at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium. The day ultimately brought mixed emotions for Indian tennis. Mukund’s composed victory kept local hopes alive in singles, while Kriish’s fearless performance against an experienced international opponent further highlighted the emergence of a promising next generation.
Mukund defeated Taiyo Yamanaka 6-4, 7-6(1) in a tightly contested match that lasted one hour and 46 minutes. The experienced Indian handled the key moments significantly better than his Japanese opponent, particularly during pressure situations late in the second set. Mukund secured the opening set with a decisive break in the 10th game after both players had traded steady baseline rallies for much of the set. While Yamanaka relied heavily on his serve throughout the contest, Mukund’s consistency from the backcourt gradually began creating openings.
The second set proved considerably more complicated for the Indian.
Yamanaka elevated his level behind an effective first serve and fired nine aces during the match, three more than Mukund. The Japanese player broke serve in the seventh game and looked set to force a deciding set when he held a set point while leading in the 10th game. However, Mukund demonstrated excellent composure under pressure.
The Indian saved the set point, broke back immediately, and then completely dominated the tiebreak, conceding just a single point to close out the match emphatically. One of the key statistical differences came in unforced errors. Mukund committed only 22 compared to Yamanaka’s 31, reflecting the Indian’s superior control during longer rallies and crucial exchanges.
The victory keeps Mukund’s strong domestic hardcourt season alive and reinforces his reputation as one of India’s most reliable performers on the Challenger and ITF circuits.
Mukund’s successful day did not end with singles. The Indian also progressed into the doubles quarterfinals alongside Adil Kalyanpur after the pair defeated alternate duo Dominik Palan and Digvijaypratap Singh 6-3, 7-5. The Indian combination looked comfortable throughout most of the contest and controlled key service games efficiently to secure straight-set progression.
Although he fell short eventually, much of the attention during the day also surrounded Bengaluru teenager Kriish Tyagi. The wildcard entrant pushed third seed Hamish Stewart in a contest lasting over two hours before losing 6-4, 4-6, 3-6. Kriish had defeated Stewart just last week during the Karnataka Open quarterfinals, and for long periods on Wednesday, it appeared another upset could be possible.
The Indian started brilliantly by breaking Stewart in the opening game of the first set before confidently protecting his advantage to claim the set 6-4. His aggressive shot-making and willingness to attack early in rallies repeatedly unsettled the British player. Kriish carried that momentum into the second set as well, securing another early break to move ahead.
However, Stewart’s experience gradually began to make the difference. The Briton adjusted tactically by extending rallies more frequently and forcing the youngster into physically demanding exchanges. Stewart eventually broke back twice in the second set to level the match before taking control during the decider.
Even then, Kriish refused to fade quietly. The Bengaluru teenager once again earned an early break in the third set, showing remarkable belief against a higher-ranked opponent. But Stewart responded strongly with crucial breaks in the sixth and eighth games to complete the comeback.
Despite the defeat, the performance further strengthened Kriish’s growing reputation within Indian tennis circles. Over the last two weeks, the youngster has consistently shown the ability to compete aggressively against experienced international professionals.
The remainder of the Indian singles contingent endured difficult days. Sidharth Rawat, who had impressed earlier in the tournament by defeating Omar Jasika, was comprehensively beaten 6-3, 6-1 by sixth seed Ognjen Milic of Serbia.
Meanwhile, wildcard Manish Sureshkumar’s impressive run came to an end against former World No. 40 Ilya Ivashka. After stunning top seed Keegan Smith in the opening round, Manish struggled to match Ivashka’s power and consistency, losing 1-6, 1-6.
Elsewhere in the draw, second seed Alastair Gray advanced comfortably into the quarterfinals, while fourth seed Petr Bar Biryukov and Mexico’s Alex Hernandez also moved into the last eight. Malaysia’s Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong continued his strong campaign as well, defeating Yusuke Takahashi in straight sets.
While only Mukund remains alive in singles, the tournament has still provided several positives for Indian tennis. Mukund’s consistency continues to offer stability at the professional level, while performances from young players like Kriish Tyagi indicate promising depth emerging below the senior circuit. For Indian tennis, developing players capable of competing consistently against international opposition remains critical.
And despite Wednesday’s mixed results, Bengaluru’s SM Krishna Memorial Open once again demonstrated both the experience of established names and the growing potential of India’s next generation.
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