Mukund Sasikumar exits SM Krishna Memorial Open in 3-set thriller vs Gray
Synopsis
Mukund Sasikumar pushed second seed Alastair Gray to the absolute limit — 14 aces, a saved match point, a forced tiebreak — and still came up short. His exit at the SM Krishna Memorial Open in Bengaluru is the kind of near-miss that underlines both the promise and the ranking gap India's tennis hopefuls are still bridging on home clay.
Key Takeaways
Mukund Sasikumar (World No.
536) lost to second seed Alastair Gray (GBR) (World No.
287) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3) in the quarterfinals on 21 May .
The match lasted 2 hours 40 minutes — the longest of the tournament's quarterfinal round.
Mukund struck 14 aces , five more than Gray, and saved a match point before the tiebreak.
Ilya Ivashka , Hamish Stewart , and Petr Bar Biryukov also advanced; all three won comfortably.
Heavy rain halted the doubles quarterfinals, with two matches left incomplete.
Semifinals: Ivashka vs.
Stewart and Biryukov vs.
Mukund Sasikumar's spirited run at the SM Krishna Memorial Open Tennis Championship ended in the quarterfinals on Thursday, 21 May, as the Chennai-born wildcard fell to second seed Alastair Gray of Great Britain 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3) in a gruelling two-hour 40-minute contest at the SM Krishna Stadium in Bengaluru. With the defeat, India's challenge in the men's singles draw was extinguished.
A Fight That Went to the Wire
Mukund, ranked 536 in the world, more than held his own against the world No. 287 Gray, firing 14 aces — five more than his opponent — and committing fewer double faults across the match. Gray broke serve three times in a dominant opening set to pocket it 6-2, but Mukund responded with a sharply elevated second set, earning a break in the fourth game and eventually sealing it 7-5 with a decisive break in the 12th game to level the contest.
The decider was equally dramatic. Gray edged ahead with a break in the ninth game, but Mukund saved a match point and broke back in the 10th before holding at love in the 11th to force a tiebreak. In the breaker, Gray opened with a mini-break and held his nerve to close out the match 7-3, denying the Indian what would have been a landmark semifinal appearance.
Other Quarterfinal Results
Elsewhere in the draw, former world No. 40 Ilya Ivashka was ruthlessly efficient, dismantling Alex Hernandez of Mexico 6-1, 6-2 in just 72 minutes. Third seed Hamish Stewart of Great Britain was even quicker, needing only 57 minutes to dispatch sixth seed Ognjen Milic of Serbia 6-2, 6-1. Fourth seed Petr Bar Biryukov survived a stiffer test from Malaysia's Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong, prevailing 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to complete the semifinal lineup.
Doubles Disrupted by Rain
Heavy rainfall disrupted the doubles quarterfinals, with only one match reaching completion on the day while two others were left unfinished. Organisers are expected to reschedule the outstanding ties.
Semifinal Line-up
The semifinals will see Ilya Ivashka take on third seed Hamish Stewart (GBR), while fourth seed Petr Bar Biryukov faces second seed Alastair Gray (GBR). With no Indian remaining in the singles draw, home interest will shift to any remaining doubles involvement.
Full quarterfinal results — Men's singles: 2-Alastair Gray (GBR) bt Mukund Sasikumar (IND) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3); Ilya Ivashka bt Alex Hernandez (MEX) 6-1, 6-2; 3-Hamish Stewart (GBR) bt 6-Ognjen Milic (SRB) 6-2, 6-1; 4-Petr Bar Biryukov bt Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (MAS) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
Point of View
Yet the tiebreak exposed a recurring pattern: Indian players competing hard enough to win sets but not yet consistent enough to close out deciding breakers against ranked opponents. The ranking gulf between 536 and 287 is not just a number; it reflects depth of match-play experience at this level. Performances like this build that experience, but the conversion rate — turning near-wins into actual wins — is what will determine whether Mukund moves meaningfully up the rankings over the next 12 months.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Mukund Sasikumar's quarterfinal at the SM Krishna Memorial Open?
Mukund Sasikumar lost to second seed Alastair Gray of Great Britain 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3) in a quarterfinal lasting two hours and 40 minutes at the SM Krishna Stadium in Bengaluru on 21 May. The defeat ended India's challenge in the men's singles draw.
How did Mukund Sasikumar perform despite the loss?
Mukund produced one of the tournament's most competitive performances, firing 14 aces — five more than Gray — committing fewer double faults, saving a match point, and forcing a tiebreak in the deciding set. He won the second set 7-5 to level the match before ultimately losing the tiebreak 7-3.
Who are the semifinalists at the SM Krishna Memorial Open?
The four semifinalists are Ilya Ivashka, third seed Hamish Stewart (GBR), fourth seed Petr Bar Biryukov, and second seed Alastair Gray (GBR). Ivashka faces Stewart, while Biryukov takes on Gray in the semis.
Why were the doubles quarterfinals not completed?
Heavy rainfall disrupted the doubles quarterfinals at the SM Krishna Stadium in Bengaluru, allowing only one match to be completed while two others were left in progress. The remaining ties are expected to be rescheduled.
Who is Mukund Sasikumar and what is his world ranking?
Mukund Sasikumar is a 29-year-old professional tennis player from Chennai, currently ranked 536 in the world. He competed as part of the Indian challenge in the SM Krishna Memorial Open men's singles draw in Bengaluru.
