French Open 2025: Balaji-Demoliner reach men's doubles quarters after stunning 6th seeds
Synopsis
Sriram Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner have reached their first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal together, upsetting the sixth-seeded German pair at Roland Garros — a milestone moment for Indian doubles tennis. With Arnav Paparkar also advancing in the juniors, India has rare cause for optimism across multiple draws at the French Open 2025.
Key Takeaways
Sriram Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner defeated sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 7-5, 6-4 to reach the men's doubles quarterfinals at Roland Garros .
It is the maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal for both Balaji and Demoliner — their third successive win at the tournament.
Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus exited the men's doubles in the second round, losing 3-6, 4-6 to Bolelli and Vavassori.
Bhambri and Alexandra Panova also fell in the mixed doubles second round, beaten 1-6, 3-6 by Skupski and Krawczyk.
Junior Arnav Paparkar beat 15th seed Kuan-Shou Chen 6-2, 6-4 to reach the boys' singles Round of 16 .
N. Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner produced a stunning upset at the French Open 2025, defeating sixth-seeded German duo Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz to advance into the men's doubles quarterfinals at Stade Roland Garros on Monday, 2 June 2025. The victory marks a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance for both Balaji and Demoliner.
How Balaji and Demoliner Reached the Last Eight
The Indo-Brazilian pair delivered a composed and disciplined performance on the clay, winning their pre-quarterfinal clash 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 25 minutes. The result was no fluke — it was their third successive win at the tournament, underlining the growing cohesion between the two players.
Earlier in the week, Balaji and Demoliner had posted a convincing second-round win over Germany's Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner, sealing that match 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes. Their run into the quarterfinals represents the deepest Grand Slam doubles run for both players.
Setbacks for India in Men's Doubles
Not all Indian campaigns progressed smoothly. Yuki Bhambri, paired with New Zealand's Michael Venus, exited the men's doubles in the second round, going down 3-6, 4-6 to the experienced Italian combination of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.
Bhambri and Venus had opened their campaign with a strong 7-5, 6-2 victory over Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo and Mariano Kestelboim in the first round, making the second-round exit a disappointing step back.
Bhambri's Mixed Doubles Campaign Ends Early
Bhambri's mixed doubles run alongside Russia's Alexandra Panova also came to an end in the second round. The pair fell 1-6, 3-6 to last year's semifinalists Neal Skupski of Great Britain and Desirae Krawczyk of the USA — a formidable combination with deep Roland Garros experience.
Arnav Paparkar Advances in Boys' Singles and Doubles
In the junior draw, Arnav Paparkar continued his impressive campaign, defeating 15th seed Kuan-Shou Chen of Chinese Taipei 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the boys' singles Round of 16. The commanding scoreline suggests Paparkar is building well on clay.
Paparkar is also active in the boys' doubles, where he and Thailand's Kunanan Pantaratorn are set to face Great Britain's Mark Ceban and Russia's Kirill Filaretov. A strong doubles showing would further cement his credentials as one of India's most promising junior talents.
What's Next for India at Roland Garros
The spotlight now falls firmly on Balaji and Demoliner as they prepare for their quarterfinal fixture — a stage neither has reached at a Grand Slam before. Their progress is a significant moment for Indian tennis, which has seen limited success in doubles at the majors in recent years. Paparkar's continued run in both junior draws adds further reason for optimism.
Point of View
But Indian tennis should resist over-reading it. Grand Slam doubles draws are volatile, and upsetting a seeded pair — even a sixth seed — on a given day does not signal a structural shift. What matters now is whether Balaji can convert this into a sustained doubles ranking push, not just a tournament highlight. Meanwhile, Bhambri's early exits across two draws point to the familiar ceiling that Indian players have struggled to break through at the majors. Paparkar's junior progress is the more structurally significant signal — if the pipeline produces, the long-term picture looks better than the current senior results suggest.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Sriram Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner reach the French Open 2025 quarterfinals?
Balaji and Demoliner defeated sixth-seeded Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 25 minutes in their pre-quarterfinal match at Roland Garros on Monday. It was their third successive win at the tournament and their maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
Who did Yuki Bhambri lose to in the French Open 2025 men's doubles?
Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand lost 3-6, 4-6 to the Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the second round of the men's doubles.
How is Arnav Paparkar performing at the French Open 2025 junior draw?
Arnav Paparkar advanced to the boys' singles Round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over 15th seed Kuan-Shou Chen of Chinese Taipei. He is also competing in the boys' doubles alongside Thailand's Kunanan Pantaratorn.
What happened to Yuki Bhambri in the mixed doubles at Roland Garros 2025?
Bhambri and his partner Alexandra Panova of Russia lost 1-6, 3-6 to last year's semifinalists Neal Skupski of Great Britain and Desirae Krawczyk of the USA in the second round of the mixed doubles.
Is this the first Grand Slam quarterfinal for Sriram Balaji?
Yes, the French Open 2025 men's doubles quarterfinal is a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal for both Sriram Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner, making it a landmark achievement in both their careers.
