Teenager Manas Dhamne, Veteran Ramkumar Ramanathan, and Prajwal Dev Set to Compete in Bengaluru Open 2025 Singles Draw

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-21 08:53:06 |

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India's 17-year-old tennis prodigy, Manas Dhamne, along with seasoned players Ramkumar Ramanathan and SD Prajwal Dev, has been granted a wild card entry into the singles main draw of the 2025 Bengaluru Open. The ATP Challenger 125 tournament is set to return for its ninth edition at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) courts in Cubbon Park, Bengaluru, from February 24 to March 2. Meanwhile, Kriish Tyagi and Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha will participate in the qualifying rounds, aiming to secure spots in the main draw, according to a KSLTA press release.

Dhamne, regarded as one of India’s brightest young talents, has been active on the professional circuit for two years. He recently claimed his maiden title at the M15 Monastir in Tunisia and holds records as the youngest player to win a first-round match at the junior Australian Open and to play in a main-draw ATP Tour match in 2023.

Veterans Ramanathan and Prajwal Dev bring years of experience to the tournament. Ramanathan, a key member of India’s Davis Cup team since 2009, is a Bengaluru Open favorite, having won three doubles titles at the event. Prajwal Dev, who earned his ATP ranking in 2015, boasts a successful career in both singles and doubles, including four ITF doubles titles in 2024.

Tournament Director Sunil Yajman emphasized the event's importance: "The Bengaluru Open continues to be a crucial platform for Indian players. Manas Dhamne’s rapid progress is inspiring, and the presence of Ramkumar and Prajwal Dev adds depth and experience to the competition."

The doubles event will feature 16 teams, including top-seeded duo Anirudh Chandrasekar and Ray Ho from Chinese Taipei. Blake Bayldon and Matthew Christopher Romios form the second-highest-ranked team, while Niki Poonacha and Courtney John Lock enter with momentum from their Delhi Open final. Notable doubles partnerships include Vit Kopriva with Marek Gengel, and Bernard Tomic teaming up with Nicolas Mejia. India’s Siddhant Banthia and Parikshit Somani will also compete as direct entrants.

Maheshwar Rao IAS, Hon. Secretary of KSLTA, highlighted the strength of Indian doubles teams: "Doubles has long been a forte for Indian tennis, and this year’s event continues to uphold that tradition with a strong field of players."

Since its debut in 2015, the Bengaluru Open has witnessed four all-Indian winning doubles pairs, with Indian players clinching the title in six of the last eight editions. Reigning champions Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan, the joint-most successful players in the tournament’s history with three titles each, are among those contributing to the event’s legacy.

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