Max Purcell crowned DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2023 champion.

The Bengaluru Open 2023, the second leg of the ATP Challenger tour in India, took place from the 20th to the 26th of February at the KSLTA Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru. Max Purcell from Australia emerged as the singles champion of the tournament, defeating his compatriot James Duckworth in an exciting final of three-setters. Purcell, who is also the reigning Wimbledon doubles champion, put on a remarkable display of tennis throughout the tournament.

Sumit Nagal, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, and the local boy SD Prajwal Dev were India’s challenge in the singles main draw. Apart from Nagal, who made it to the singles quarterfinals, the other two including Prajnesh and Prajwal lost in the first round in the main draw. In singles, India’s challenge came to an end with Nagal’s early exit from the tournament when he lost to the tournament champion Max Purcell in Round 16 after putting in a brave fight.

Yunseong Chung and Yu Hsiou Hsu clinched the doubles title despite a strong resistance offered by the Indian pair of Anirudh Chandrasekhar and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth in the final. Chung-Hsu, a South Korean-Taipei combination, bagged the trophy with a 3-6, 7-6 (7), 11-9 win. Another Indian star, Ramkumar Ramanathan, along with his partner Francesco Maestrelli, made it to the doubles quarterfinals before going down to the duo of Max Purcell and Marc Polmans in the QF.

India’s Arjun Kadhe, in a partnership with Maximilian Neuchrist, reached the doubles semifinals before going down to India’s pair of Anirudh Chandrasekhar and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth in a match of three sets 7-6(1), 4-6, 10-2.

The tournament featured a mix of local and international talent, with fans enjoying some exciting tennis matches throughout the event. The president of the All India Tennis Association and Hon’ble member of parliament, Dr Anil Jain, was present on the final day of the tournament and conducted the toss before the singles final. His esteemed presence added a special value to the prestigious tournament and it’s certainly a testament to his dedication and commitment to the sport of tennis in India.

In addition, the tournament organizers paid a humble tribute to one of India’s leading sports icons and Indian Tennis legend Sania Mirza, who had just retired the previous week in the Dubai Open to finish her incredible career. Bengaluru Open thanked Sania for her incredible career and thousands of memories, acknowledging her significant contributions to Indian tennis.

Overall, the Bengaluru Open 2023 was a thrilling and well-fought tournament, showcasing the immense talent of both local and international players. With a mix of exciting singles and doubles matches, it was a great display of top-notch tennis that left fans on the edge of their seats