SM Krishna Memorial Open: Digvijay Pratap Singh Aims for Strong Comeback in Bengaluru
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Synopsis
The SM Krishna Memorial Open in Bengaluru is set to begin, featuring an exciting week of tennis with a strong player lineup. Digvijay Pratap Singh is making his return to the sport after a long absence, aiming for a successful comeback. The tournament promises thrilling matches, culminating in finals later in the week.
Key Takeaways
- The SM Krishna Memorial Open starts on Tuesday in Bengaluru.
- Digvijay Pratap Singh is returning after an 18-month hiatus.
- The tournament features a prize pool of USD 30,000.
- Notable players include Aryan Shah and Jay Clarke.
- Doubles finals are scheduled for April 5.
Bengaluru, March 31 (NationPress) The main draw of the SM Krishna Memorial Open is set to commence on Tuesday, promising a week filled with exhilarating tennis action at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium. With an impressive roster of players ready to compete, this ITF Men’s M25 event featuring a prize purse of USD 30,000 is sure to deliver thrilling matches, with doubles finals scheduled for April 5 and the singles final on the following day.
Among the participants is Digvijay Pratap Singh, who is making his return to the circuit after an 18-month break due to health issues. Reflecting on his comeback, he stated, “I’m returning after a significant setback caused by an autoimmune condition. This is my fourth tournament after a year and a half away, and I genuinely feel great, perhaps the best I've felt in a long time, especially here.”
Bengaluru holds special importance for Digvijay, as it is where he celebrated his first Challenger title. “I have many fond memories. My inaugural Challenger victory was in Bengaluru, and I would always take part; I wouldn't skip a single tournament here,” he reminisced. Commending the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, the 24-year-old remarked, “For me, as a venue and an event, it's the finest place to host a tournament in India.”
The tournament boasts a competitive lineup, with 19-year-old Aryan Shah entering following a title win at the ITF Men’s Tennis Tournament in Ahmedabad. Also competing is Britain's Jay Clarke, the runner-up from the same event, promising an exciting rivalry.
Representing Karnataka are players such as Krish Tyagi, Prajwal Dev, Rishi Reddy, Adil Kalyanpur, and Suraj Prabodh. Other notable competitors include Britain's Oliver Crawford, Australia’s Moerani Bouzige, Russia’s Bogdon Bobrov, Japan’s Ryotaro Taguchi, Karan Singh, and Dev Javia.
Digvijay, who will face Siddharth Rawat on Tuesday, recognized the high level of competition, saying, “I'm not focused on any specific opponent because everyone here is talented. However, Aryan and Karan Singh are particularly exciting to watch, motivating me to elevate my own game.”
The doubles competition will feature the top-seeded combination of Adil Kalyanpur and Kody Pearson (AUS) taking on Moerani Bouzige (AUS) and Ryuki Matsuda (JPN), while the Karnataka duo of Deepak Ananthramu and Preetam Ganesh faces Nick Chappel (USA) and Grigorly Nomakin (Kaz).
In the qualifying rounds held over the weekend, Mann Kesharwani, Abhinav Sanjeev Shanmugam, Kody Pearson (AUS), Nitin Kumar Sinha, Kabir Hans, Nikita Ianin, Raghav Jaisinghani, and Karnataka’s Suraj Prabodh earned their places in the main draw.
This esteemed tournament is a collaborative effort by the KSLTA and the Karnataka State Government and was conceived to honor the visionary former Chief Minister of Karnataka, SM Krishna, who was a passionate tennis lover and led the KSLTA as its president from 1999 to 2020. He also served as the Life President of AITA from 2015 to 2023. Earlier this week, the facility was renamed as the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium to acknowledge his support of the sport.
