Thrilling Start to Bengaluru Open 2026 with Qualifying Matches

The Bengaluru Open 2026 kicked off with thrilling qualifying matches at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium. Sidharth Rawat advanced to the final round after defeating Nitin Kumar Sinha. Other Indian players put up a fight but fell short against higher-ranked opponents. The excitement continues as the main draw begins, featuring notable matches including wildcard Manas Dhamne against fifth seed Matej Dodig. Stay tuned for more updates on this prestigious tournament!

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 5, 2026, 02:06 IST

Exciting Qualifying Rounds Kick Off at Bengaluru Open

The S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was alive with excitement on January 4 as the first round of qualifying matches for the 10th Bengaluru Open 2026 commenced, as reported by a local media outlet.

Indian tennis player Sidharth Rawat secured his spot in the final qualifying round after a solid performance, defeating fellow countryman Nitin Kumar Sinha with a score of 6-3, 7-5. Rawat started strong, taking the first set decisively. Although Sinha fought back in the second set and managed to break Rawat's serve, Rawat quickly regained control with two crucial breaks, sealing the match in straight sets.

In other qualifying matches, Indian players Dev Javia and Adil Kalyanpur showcased commendable efforts but were narrowly defeated in three-set matches against their higher-ranked rivals, Dominik Palan and Eero Vasa, respectively.

Also moving on to the final qualifying round, which is set for Monday morning, are Kuan-Yi Lee from Chinese Taipei, Japan's Ryotaro Taguchi and Jumpei Yamasaki, Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong from Malaysia, Aziz Ouakaa from Tunisia, Niels Visker from the Netherlands, and French players Arthur Reymond and Felix Balshaw.

Later on Sunday, Ukraine's Yurii Dzhavakian was scheduled to compete against France's Alexis Gautier, wrapping up the first day of qualifying matches.

The main draw is set to begin on Monday afternoon, promising an exciting lineup for local fans. Wildcard entry Manas Dhamne will face fifth seed Matej Dodig from Croatia, followed by a highly anticipated all-Indian match between former champion Sumit Nagal and local favorite S.D. Prajwal Dev.