Digvijay Pratap Singh wins ITF M15 Baku title in emotional tribute to grandfather
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Digvijay Pratap Singh clinched the men's singles title at the ITF Men's World Tennis Tour M15 in Baku, Azerbaijan on 5 October 2026, defeating top seed Millen Hurrion of Great Britain (ATP 537) in a commanding 6-4, 6-4 straight-set final. The second-seeded Indian, ranked ATP 552, dedicated the victory to his grandfather, who passed away on 1 October — midway through the tournament week.
A Win Wrapped in Grief
The triumph carried profound emotional weight for the Roundglass Tennis Academy (RGTA) athlete. Despite suffering a personal bereavement at the peak of competition, Singh demonstrated exceptional mental fortitude, refusing to let grief derail his campaign. His dedication of the title to his late grandfather made the win one of the most poignant Indian tennis victories of the season.
The Road to the Final
Singh opened his Baku campaign on hard courts with a clinical 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Russia's Dmitry Bessonov in the first round. He then ground out a 6-3, 7-6 win over Great Britain's Oscar Brown in the Round of 16, before edging past Turkey's Arda Azkara 7-5, 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
His stiffest challenge arrived in the semi-finals against seventh seed Marcus Walters of Great Britain. In a gruelling three-set contest featuring two tie-breaks, Singh held his nerve to prevail 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 — a result that underscored his ability to perform under pressure. The final, by contrast, was a statement: a composed straight-set demolition of the tournament's top seed.
RGTA's Dominant Run on the ITF Circuit
The Baku title adds to what has been a remarkable season for Roundglass Tennis Academy. Earlier this year, fellow RGTA athlete Karan Singh captured back-to-back ITF M15 titles in Bali, winning his second singles crown in consecutive weeks at the ITF M15 Men's World Tennis Championship held at the Bali Beach Country Club. Together, the two wins reinforce RGTA's growing reputation as one of India's premier launchpads for elite tennis talent on the global circuit.
What It Means for Indian Tennis
Digvijay's win in Baku is the latest evidence of a quietly strengthening pipeline of Indian men's tennis professionals making inroads on the ITF Tour. Notably, beating a higher-ranked opponent — Hurrion at ATP 537 against Singh's ATP 552 — in a final signals genuine competitive progress. The result is expected to improve Singh's ATP ranking when the next cycle is processed. All eyes will now be on which ITF event he targets next as he pushes for a higher seeding bracket.