Fenesta Open 2026: Prabodh upsets 2nd seed Balsekar; Sureshkumar/Sinha reach quarters
Synopsis
The 31st Fenesta Open threw up its first big shock on Day 1 — a 31-year-old outsider rallying from a set down to eliminate the No. 2 seed at the DLTA Complex. With two doubles seedings also toppled and the top men's doubles pair safely through, the draw is now wide open heading into the later rounds.
Key Takeaways
Suraj Prabodh , 31, defeated No.
2 seed Aditya Balsekar 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) in the men's singles first round on 6 October at the DLTA Complex, New Delhi .
Fifth seed Oges Jaya was also eliminated in the first round, losing to Raghav Jaisinghani 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 .
Top seeds Manish Sureshkumar and Nitin Sinha advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-2 win.
Second seeds Madhwin Kamath and Rohan Mehra were upset in men's doubles by Aryan Chauhan and Karan Singh 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 .
In the women's draw, seeds Aditi Rawat , Laxmi Siri Dandu , and Sohini Mohanty all progressed.
Boys' U-18 top seed Praneel Sharma beat Sarthak Gaikwad 6-0, 6-3 ; girls' top seed S Bhuvaneswaran also advanced comfortably.
Suraj Prabodh, 31, delivered one of the standout upsets of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship on Tuesday, 6 October, rallying from a set down to eliminate No. 2 seed Aditya Balsekar 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi. The result sent shockwaves through the men's singles draw at one of India's most prestigious national tennis events.
Prabodh's Match-Winning Shift
After dropping the opening set, Prabodh recalibrated his game plan, opting for a noticeably more aggressive approach from the baseline. The gamble paid off handsomely as he stormed through the second set 6-2 before edging a tense tiebreak 7-4 in the third to clinch the match. 'Everybody knows he is a great player,' Prabodh told reporters after the win. 'I was just trying to hang in there, and especially after the first set, I thought he was too consistent, and he was just everywhere. I thought I should just try to be a little more aggressive and get into the points or start the points a little more aggressively. Somehow I got through it, and it was well planned, and the execution was also perhaps better.'
More Upsets in the Men's Draw
The first round produced further shocks. Fifth seed Oges Jaya was bundled out by big-serving Raghav Jaisinghani, who prevailed 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Fourth seed Udit Kamboj, however, kept his campaign on track with a composed 6-1, 7-5 win over rising youngster Aditya Mor, avoiding a similar fate.
Women's Singles: Seeded Players Progress
In the women's singles draw, fifth seed Aditi Rawat, seventh seed Laxmi Siri Dandu, and eighth seed Sohini Mohanty all advanced. Rawat was made to work hard before prevailing 6-3, 7-5 over L Arunkumar. 'In the last game, honestly, I was just focusing on myself,' she said afterwards. 'I was trying to just go for my shots. I wasn't really concerned about the scoreboard or the score. I just try to give my best in the match.'
Doubles Action: Top Seeds Through, Second Seeds Fall
In the men's doubles, top seeds Manish Sureshkumar and Nitin Sinha — Sureshkumar being also the top seed in the men's singles draw — moved into the quarterfinals with a controlled 7-5, 6-2 victory over Raghav Jaisinghani and Lakshit Sood. 'It was a pretty good match,' Sureshkumar said. 'I think there are a lot of good points. Hopefully our combination works going forward and let's see how it goes.' Sinha added: 'He covered everything, and it's always fun playing with him, and we are looking forward to the next rounds.' However, second seeds Madhwin Kamath and Rohan Mehra suffered an upset, going down 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 to the pair of Aryan Chauhan and Karan Singh.
Juniors: Sharma Dominant, Bhuvaneswaran Advances
In the boys' U-18 singles, top seed Praneel Sharma was imperious, dismantling Sarthak Gaikwad 6-0, 6-3 to reach the round of 16. Third seed Harsh Malik was upset in the second round, while fourth seed Om Patel and fifth seed Aditya Mor progressed. In the girls' U-18 draw, top seed S Bhuvaneswaran and third seed Shreeniti Chowdhury both registered comfortable wins to reach the third round. The championship continues to build toward what promises to be a compelling quarterfinal stage across all draws.
Point of View
He represents the resilience of India's domestic circuit grind, where late-blooming players often lack the institutional backing that seeded stars receive. The fact that two top-two men's doubles seeds fell on the same day suggests the draw is unusually open this year. Indian tennis selectors watching the Fenesta Open would do well to note that the competitive depth outside the top seeds is growing, even if pathway structures for such players remain thin compared to academies abroad.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the 31st Fenesta Open on 6 October 2026?
Suraj Prabodh caused a major upset, defeating No. 2 seed Aditya Balsekar 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) in the men's singles first round at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi. Fifth seed Oges Jaya was also knocked out on the same day.
Who are Manish Sureshkumar and Nitin Sinha, and how did they perform?
Manish Sureshkumar is the top seed in both the men's singles and men's doubles draws at the Fenesta Open 2026. He and partner Nitin Sinha advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Raghav Jaisinghani and Lakshit Sood.
Which seeded players were upset in the men's doubles at Fenesta Open?
Second seeds Madhwin Kamath and Rohan Mehra were eliminated in the first round, losing 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 to unseeded pair Aryan Chauhan and Karan Singh. It was one of two doubles upsets on the opening day.
How did the women's singles seeds fare in round one?
Fifth seed Aditi Rawat, seventh seed Laxmi Siri Dandu, and eighth seed Sohini Mohanty all won their first-round matches. Rawat had the toughest outing, edging past L Arunkumar 6-3, 7-5.
What is the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship?
The Fenesta Open is one of India's most prominent national tennis championships, now in its 31st edition. It is held at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi and features men's and women's singles, doubles, and junior draws, serving as a key platform for Indian tennis talent.
