Kalyanpur/Mukund Sasikumar clinch maiden ATP Challenger doubles title at SM Krishna Open
Synopsis
Adil Kalyanpur and Mukund Sasikumar turned a first-set tie-break loss into a championship — storming back to win the SM Krishna Memorial Open 2026 doubles title in Bengaluru. It is the maiden ATP Challenger 50 doubles crown for both players, sealed on home soil against the same Kazakhstani pair that eliminated fellow Indians Poonacha and Myneni in the semis.
Key Takeaways
Adil Kalyanpur and Mukund Sasikumar won the SM Krishna Memorial Open 2026 doubles title on 24 May in Bengaluru .
The unseeded Indian pair defeated Petr Bar Biryukov and Grigoriy Lomakin (Kazakhstan) 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-3 in the final.
It is the maiden ATP Challenger 50 doubles title for both players as individuals and as a pair.
Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Saketh Myneni lost to the same Kazakhstani duo in the semi-finals, 6-3, 6-4 .
In singles, Petr Bar Biryukov beat Ilya Ivashka 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-4 to complete a singles-doubles double.
The SM Krishna Open was Bengaluru's third ATP Challenger event of 2026 .
Adil Kalyanpur and Mukund Sasikumar delivered a memorable home triumph at the SM Krishna Memorial Open 2026 in Bengaluru on 24 May, defeating the Kazakhstani pair of Petr Bar Biryukov and Grigoriy Lomakin 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-3 in the final to claim their maiden ATP Challenger 50 doubles title — both as individuals and as a partnership.
How the Final Unfolded
The unseeded Indian duo showed remarkable resilience at the SM Krishna KSLTA Tennis Stadium, dropping the opening set in a tightly contested tie-break before regrouping decisively. They levelled the match by taking the second set 6-4 and then dominated the super tie-breaker 10-3, wrapping up the title in one hour and 37 minutes. The victory was greeted with a rousing reception from the home crowd.
Road to the Title
Kalyanpur and Sasikumar's run through the draw was equally impressive. In the quarter-finals, they upset the fourth-seeded Japanese pair of Kokoro Isomura and Ryuki Matsuda 6-3, 7-6(4). They followed that with a straight-sets demolition of second seeds Charles Barry of Ireland and Joshua Charlton of Australia, winning 6-4, 6-3 to book their final berth.
Other Indian Performances
India's Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Saketh Myneni were the pair that Biryukov and Lomakin eliminated in the semi-finals, going down 6-3, 6-4. Sasikumar also had a strong individual run in the singles draw, pushing Great Britain's Alastair Gray in a gruelling quarter-final before falling 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(3) in a match lasting two hours and 40 minutes. The 29-year-old will take considerable confidence from that performance.
Singles Final Result
In the men's singles showpiece, Petr Bar Biryukov — who had also been part of the victorious doubles pair — defeated Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-4 to complete a remarkable double at the tournament. Ivashka had earlier ousted Britain's third seed Hamish Stewart 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the semi-finals, while Biryukov had edged second seed Alastair Gray 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in another three-set contest.
Bengaluru's Growing Tennis Calendar
The SM Krishna Memorial Open was the third ATP Challenger event held in Bengaluru in 2026, following the Bengaluru Open in January and the Karnataka Open the previous week. The city is fast establishing itself as one of India's premier tennis destinations, and Kalyanpur and Sasikumar's title run will only add to that momentum. With this victory, both players will be eyeing further progress on the Challenger circuit as the season continues.
Point of View
Who pushed a seeded opponent to three sets in singles the same week, the answer may be closer than the rankings currently suggest.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the SM Krishna Memorial Open 2026 doubles title?
Adil Kalyanpur and Mukund Sasikumar won the doubles title at the SM Krishna Memorial Open 2026 in Bengaluru on 24 May, defeating Kazakhstan's Petr Bar Biryukov and Grigoriy Lomakin 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-3 in the final. It is the maiden ATP Challenger 50 doubles crown for both players.
What was the score in the SM Krishna Open doubles final?
The final score was 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-3 in favour of Kalyanpur and Sasikumar. The match lasted one hour and 37 minutes at the SM Krishna KSLTA Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru.
How did Kalyanpur and Sasikumar reach the doubles final?
The unseeded Indian pair beat fourth-seeded Japanese duo Kokoro Isomura and Ryuki Matsuda 6-3, 7-6(4) in the quarter-finals, then defeated second seeds Charles Barry (Ireland) and Joshua Charlton (Australia) 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals.
Who won the SM Krishna Memorial Open 2026 singles title?
Petr Bar Biryukov of Kazakhstan won the singles title, defeating Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-4 in the final — completing a singles and doubles double at the tournament.
How significant is the SM Krishna Memorial Open for Indian tennis?
The SM Krishna Memorial Open was the third ATP Challenger event held in Bengaluru in 2026, after the Bengaluru Open in January and the Karnataka Open the previous week. The city's dense Challenger calendar is helping Indian players accumulate ranking points and competitive experience on home soil.
