Niki Poonacha and Gonzalo Escobar Stage Comeback to Win Lexington Challenger Doubles Title

Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha added another significant milestone to his 2026 season after teaming up with Ecuador's Gonzalo Escobar to win the doubles title at the ATP Challenger 75 Lexington Open.

The third-seeded Indo-Ecuadorian pair produced a dramatic comeback in the final, defeating Andre Ilagan and Karl Poling 6-7(1), 6-3, [11-9] after saving two match points in the deciding match tie-break.

The victory marks Poonacha's fifth ATP Challenger doubles title of 2026 and the 11th of his career, further underlining the Indian's consistency on the Challenger circuit. For Escobar, the triumph represented the 19th ATP Challenger doubles title of his career. The title also capped a strong week for the pair, who had to navigate a competitive draw before overcoming the top seeds in the semifinals.

The championship match proved to be a test of composure, particularly in the deciding stages. Poonacha and Escobar narrowly lost the opening set after Ilagan and Poling dominated the first-set tie-break, winning it 7-1. Rather than allowing the setback to derail their momentum, the third seeds responded strongly in the second set.

Poonacha and Escobar raised their level, improved their execution at crucial points and secured a 6-3 second set to force a deciding match tie-break. The final set then produced the most dramatic sequence of the match. With the title within reach for both teams, Poonacha and Escobar found themselves under immense pressure after Ilagan and Poling earned two match points. The Indo-Ecuadorian combination held their nerve, saved both opportunities and eventually turned the match around to win the deciding tie-break 11-9.

The comeback sealed the title and provided another indication of Poonacha's ability to perform under pressure in Challenger-level doubles.

A Consistent 2026 Season for Poonacha

The Lexington triumph represents Poonacha's fifth ATP Challenger doubles title this year. His consistency throughout the 2026 Challenger season has been one of the defining features of his campaign, with the Indian repeatedly progressing deep into doubles draws and converting opportunities into titles.

The latest victory takes his career ATP Challenger doubles tally to 11 titles. The achievement is particularly notable given the competitiveness of the Challenger circuit, where partnerships can change frequently and players must quickly develop chemistry with different teammates. Poonacha has demonstrated an ability to adapt to different partners while maintaining a high level of performance.

His run in Lexington has also pushed his live ATP doubles ranking to a career-high No. 85, providing another important milestone in his progression.

The title was not handed to the third seeds easily. Poonacha and Escobar had to overcome the top-seeded combination of Ray Ho and Ilia Liutarevich in the semifinals.

After dropping the opening set 4-6, the Indo-Ecuadorian pair fought back to take the second set 7-5 before producing a strong performance in the deciding match tie-break to win 10-6. Beating the tournament's top seeds gave the pair considerable momentum heading into the final. It also demonstrated their ability to recover from difficult situations, a theme that would continue in the championship match.

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Earlier in the tournament, Poonacha and Escobar had also produced convincing performances to reach the latter stages. In the quarterfinals, the third seeds defeated Ariel Behar and Joshua Paris 7-6(2), 7-6(6) in a closely contested encounter. Neither set was decided easily, but Poonacha and Escobar remained composed during both tie-breaks to secure a straight-set victory and progress to the last four.

They then raised their level further in the semifinals, defeating Calum Puttergill and Joshua Sheehy 6-1, 6-2 before facing the top seeds. The progression highlighted the pair's growing understanding throughout the tournament and their ability to maintain momentum as the stakes increased.

The partnership with Escobar proved highly effective in Lexington.

Escobar brought extensive Challenger doubles experience to the combination, while Poonacha continued to demonstrate his strengths as an aggressive and adaptable doubles player. Their ability to recover after losing the opening set in the final, followed by saving two match points, was perhaps the clearest demonstration of the partnership's resilience. For Poonacha, playing alongside an experienced partner such as Escobar also provides another opportunity to develop his game against some of the strongest doubles players competing outside the ATP Tour.

Poonacha's latest title adds another positive chapter to India's growing presence on the international doubles circuit. With 11 ATP Challenger doubles titles now to his name and five coming in 2026 alone, the Indian has established himself as a consistent performer at this level.

His career-high live ranking of No. 85 further reflects that progress. The Lexington title is therefore more than another trophy. It is another step in Poonacha's pursuit of establishing himself among the leading doubles players emerging from India.

After a week defined by comebacks, pressure situations and increasingly difficult opponents, Poonacha and Escobar finished with the title in their hands.

From saving two match points in the final to claiming his fifth Challenger doubles title of 2026, Niki Poonacha once again showed why he has become one of India's most consistent performers on the doubles circuit.