THE 10TH EDITION of the Bengaluru Open, an ATP Challenger 125 tournament, is underway at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium.
India’s top-ranked singles player, Sumit Nagal, will begin his campaign against fellow Indian SD Prajwal Dev, while top seed Pedro Martínez of Spain has been drawn to face Eero Vasa in the opening round.
Several experienced contenders, including second seed Harold Mayot, third seed Jay Clarke and fourth seed Lloyd Harris, have landed in challenging sections of the draw, setting up a competitive start to the tournament.
Indian players feature prominently in the main draw, with six homegrown players in action, highlighting the event’s continued focus on providing domestic talent with exposure at a high international level.
In addition to Nagal and Prajwal Dev, the Indian line-up includes India No. 2 Aryan Shah, India No. 3 Karan Singh, and wildcard entrants Dhakshineswar Suresh and Manas Damne.
In first-round encounters, Suresh will face Croatia’s Duje Ajduković, while Damne takes on fifth seed Matej Dodig of Croatia. Aryan Shah has been drawn against Beibit Zhukayev, and Karan Singh will open his campaign against Borna Gojo. The tournament will conclude with the semi-finals on 9 January, followed by the final on 10 January.
Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) honorary secretary Maheswar Rao said, “We are pleased to welcome players, officials and fans to the landmark 10th edition of the Dafa News Bengaluru Open. With continued support from the state government and senior officials, we have focused this year on enhancing player experience, ensuring smooth movement and comfort. Over the years, the tournament has built a strong reputation as a well-organised, player-friendly ATP Challenger event. Alongside delivering high-quality competition, our aim is to attract larger spectator participation, particularly for the evening matches under lights. As one of the first ATP tournaments of the season and a total purse of $225,000, it is a privilege for Bengaluru to host the event and showcase its world-class tennis infrastructure.”
KSLTA tournament director Sunil Yajaman commented, “We have participation from 19 countries, with six Indians in the main draw. Over the years, this event has enhanced the stature of Bengaluru and its contribution to world tennis. We look forward to an exciting week, and with Bengaluru also set to host the Davis Cup tie between India and the Netherlands next month, it reinforces the city’s growing stature on the global tennis map.”
