Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh unleashed a serving masterclass to storm into the second round of the Bengaluru Open ATP 125 Challenger on Tuesday. The 25-year-old from Tamil Nadu, ranked 521 in the world, used his formidable serve to overpower Croatia's Duje Ajdukovic (ranked 329) with a straight-sets victory of 6-4, 6-4 at the SM Krishna tennis stadium.
A Serve Forged Through Discipline
Dhakshineswar Suresh's most potent weapon is his booming serve, a skill honed through relentless daily practice. The 6-foot-5-inch tall student at Wake Forest University in the United States dedicates himself to hitting between 50 to 100 serves in each training session. This discipline was on full display against Ajdukovic, as Suresh fired an impressive 20 aces past his opponent in a match that lasted just over an hour.
"It was a good day and my serve doesn’t get any better than that," a pleased Suresh said after the match. He emphasized the importance of his serve, stating, "The serve is one of the biggest aspects of my game. I need to keep my shoulder healthy too, because it is a lot of serves every day."
Dominance on Court and Key Statistics
The match was characterized by Suresh's serving dominance and a lack of extended rallies. The Croat was broken in the very first game and struggled to find answers to the Indian's firepower. Suresh's first serve was particularly devastating, winning 34 out of 38 points when it landed in. He delivered a stunning service masterclass in the sixth game, sending down three consecutive aces.
While his serve was impeccable, Suresh acknowledged that his return game needs refinement. Ajdukovic applied pressure from the baseline, but Suresh's serve consistently bailed him out. The match was effectively sealed when Suresh broke Ajdukovic's serve in the fifth game of the second set. The contest ended fittingly with Suresh firing two final aces in the tenth game, prompting a resigned smile and applause from his defeated opponent.
Local Knowledge and Road Ahead
Suresh credited his recent experience playing in the World Tennis League (WTL) in Bengaluru last month for his confident performance. "I was here for the WTL so I knew the conditions and how to play. That played a big role in my win today," he explained. He also highlighted the advantage of playing at high altitude in Bengaluru, noting, "I love playing in Bengaluru as it is high-altitude and the ball pops off the string. So it gives me an advantage during my service games."
Suresh's next challenge is a second-round encounter against 19-year-old Frenchman Felix Balshaw on Wednesday. A potential blockbuster quarterfinal clash against India's top-ranked player, Sumit Nagal, awaits if both players advance.
Other Indian Results on Day Two
The day, however, ended in disappointment for the other two Indians in singles action. Both Karan Singh (ranked 466) and Aryan Shah (ranked 398) were defeated by taller, big-serving opponents.
- Karan Singh was outplayed 6-2, 6-4 by Croatia's 6'5" Borna Gojo (ranked 293), who hit 13 aces in a match lasting one hour and four minutes.
- Aryan Shah succumbed 6-1, 6-2 to the 6'6" Kazakh player Beibit Zhukayev (ranked 277), who blasted 11 aces in one hour and seventeen minutes.
The results underscored the importance of a powerful serve on the fast courts of the Bengaluru Open, a lesson Dhakshineswar Suresh has mastered to perfection.
