Karan Singh's Tenacious Journey to the Finals at ITF M25 Kolkata

Karan Singh's Strong Performance at ITF M25 Kolkata

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 15: Karan Singh, an athlete from the Roundglass Tennis Academy, showcased remarkable determination before ultimately losing to Australia's Philip Sekulic in the finals of the ITF Men's World Tennis Tour M25 Kolkata tournament on Sunday.

During the singles final held at the Bengal Tennis Association stadium, Karan encountered a tough first set but made a strong comeback in the second. He pushed Sekulic to the edge, taking the second set to a tie-breaker, but fell short with a score of 1-6, 6-7, as per a press release.

Despite the defeat, Karan's journey to the finals of this $25,000 hard-court event underscores his developing physical and tactical skills on the professional circuit.

As the second seed, Karan began his tournament with a hard-fought victory over compatriot Aditya Balsekar, winning 7-6(5), 6-4 in the first round. He then confidently moved past Russia's Bekhan Atlangeriev with a score of 6-2, 7-6(4) in the second round.

In the quarterfinals, Karan displayed immense resilience, overcoming eighth seed Yurii Dzhavakian from Ukraine in a challenging three-set match, coming back from a set down to win 6-7, 6-3, 7-5. He continued this trend in the semifinals, staging another comeback to defeat fellow Indian Sidharth Rawat 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, securing his place in the final.

Karan's runner-up finish in Kolkata adds to his series of strong performances this year on the professional circuit. Earlier in January, the 22-year-old claimed the ITF M15 Hyderabad singles title, marking his first professional singles victory on Indian soil by defeating top seed Max Houkes from the Netherlands in straight sets.

Moreover, Karan's rising profile has allowed him to consistently compete in higher-level ATP Challenger 100 and 75 events this year, making main draw appearances in Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, and New Delhi.

His ongoing development, ability to challenge higher-ranked players, and commanding presence on the court recently earned him a well-deserved place in the Indian Davis Cup squad, solidifying his status as one of the nation's most promising tennis talents.

Karan trains at the Roundglass Tennis Academy in Chandigarh, where he continues to refine his all-around game.