India's campaign at the French Open 2025 has drawn to a close, with Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, and Manas Dhamne all exiting the tournament in the early rounds. While there were moments of promise and spirited performances, the Indian contingent was unable to sustain their momentum, leaving fans disappointed.
Rohan Bopanna, the veteran Indian tennis star, partnered with Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic in the men's doubles event. The unseeded Indo-Czech pair began their campaign with a hard-fought victory in the first round, overcoming the American duo of Robert Cash and JJ Tracy in a three-set thriller, 7-6(8), 5-7, 6-1. Bopanna and Pavlasek displayed resilience and converted four break points, winning an impressive 68% of their first-serve points. In the second round, they faced a tougher challenge but managed to progress, raising hopes for a deep run in the tournament. However, their journey was cut short in the pre-quarterfinals by the second seeds, Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Britain. The world number three and four ranked duo proved too strong, defeating Bopanna and Pavlasek 2-6, 6-7(5). Despite a valiant effort, the Indo-Czech pair couldn't match the consistency and power of their opponents, bringing an end to Bopanna's campaign at Roland Garros 2025.
Yuki Bhambri, another prominent Indian tennis player, also participated in the men's doubles event, partnering with Robert Galloway of the United States. Bhambri and Galloway displayed excellent teamwork and secured a first-round victory against Robin Haase and Hendrik Jebens with a score of 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3. Bhambri's performance at the net was particularly impressive, dispatching volley winners and displaying solid strokes from the back of the court. In the second round, Bhambri and Galloway faced the seventh-seeded pair of Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus. In a thrilling match, the Indo-American duo secured an upset win with a score of 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-3. However, their run ended in the third round against the ninth seeds, Christian Harrison and Evan King. Bhambri and Galloway lost 4-6, 4-6.
In the Junior Championship, India's Manas Dhamne, a promising young talent, entered the main draw as a qualifier. However, his journey was short-lived as he was defeated by fellow American qualifier Ronit Karki with a score of 5-7, 3-6. The 17-year-old Dhamne, despite showing glimpses of his potential, was unable to perform at his best, resulting in an early exit from the tournament.
N Sriram Balaji, partnering with Miguel Reyes-Varela of Mexico, also participated in the men's doubles event. The Indo-Mexican pair demonstrated their skills with a dominant straight-set victory in the first round against China's Yunchaokete Bu and Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli, 6-2, 6-1. However, their progress was halted in the second round by the fourth-seeded Italian duo, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, who defeated them in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Overall, the French Open 2025 proved to be a mixed bag for the Indian players. While some managed to secure early victories and display their talent, they ultimately fell short of making a significant impact on the tournament.
