Treesa-Gayatri reach US Open 2026 R2; Rounak Chouhan enters main draw
Synopsis
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand battled through a three-game contest to reach the US Open 2026 pre-quarterfinals — a significant step in Treesa's comeback from a three-month injury layoff. Rounak Chouhan's back-to-back qualifying runs at Macau and now Fullerton signal a shuttler finding his footing on the international stage.
Key Takeaways
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Spain's Paula López and Lucía Rodríguez 21-12, 14-21, 21-13 at the US Open 2026 in Fullerton, California .
The pair, ranked 58th in the world and Commonwealth Games medallists , are India's only women's doubles entry in the draw.
They next face Japan's Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi for a quarter-final spot.
Rounak Chouhan qualified for the main draw by beating Enogat Roy (France) and Kuo Kuan-lin (Chinese Taipei) in the qualifying rounds.
Lakshya Sen , Kidambi Srikanth , and Anmol Kharb are set to begin their main draw campaigns on Wednesday .
Defending men's singles champion Ayush Shetty will not defend his title at this year's event.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand opened their US Open 2026 badminton campaign with a gritty three-game win over Spain's Paula López and Lucía Rodríguez on Wednesday at the Titan Gym in Fullerton, California, advancing to the second round of the BWF Super 300 event. The Indian women's doubles pair, ranked 58th in the world, won 21-12, 14-21, 21-13 to set up a pre-quarterfinal berth.
How the Match Unfolded
The Commonwealth Games medallists looked commanding in the opener, breezing through 21-12. Spain's López and Rodríguez, however, refused to capitulate, levelling the contest by taking the second game 21-14 and forcing a decider. In the third, Treesa and Gayatri rediscovered their rhythm and closed out the match with a dominant 21-13 to seal a hard-fought victory.
Treesa's Comeback Trail
The win carries added significance for the pair, particularly for Treesa Jolly, who returned to competitive play at the Indonesia Open earlier this month following a three-month rehabilitation period due to injury. The duo are India's only representatives in the women's doubles draw at this tournament. They will next face Japan's Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi for a place in the quarter-finals.
Rounak Chouhan Qualifies for Main Draw
In the men's singles qualifying rounds, Rounak Chouhan delivered a composed performance to earn a spot in the main draw. The Indian shuttler first defeated Enogat Roy of France 21-19, 21-16, then overcame Kuo Kuan-lin of Chinese Taipei 13-21, 21-14, 21-10 in a closely contested three-game encounter. Notably, Rounak had also come through the qualifiers at last week's Macau Open, where he went on to reach the quarter-finals — a run that underlines his growing confidence on the international circuit.
India's Broader Campaign
India's main draw challenge is set to gather momentum with Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and Anmol Kharb all beginning their respective campaigns on Wednesday. Meanwhile, defending men's singles champion Ayush Shetty will not be returning to defend the title he claimed at last year's US Open, leaving the door open for a new champion in that category.
Point of View
And a three-game win in the opening round is exactly the kind of confidence-builder the pair needed. Rounak Chouhan's consecutive qualifying runs at Macau and Fullerton point to a player maturing tactically, even if his ranking does not yet reflect it. The real test for India's badminton depth comes when Sen, Srikanth, and Kharb step on court — a strong showing across disciplines would mark this as one of India's more complete BWF Super 300 campaigns of the season.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score in Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's US Open 2026 first-round match?
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Spain's Paula López and Lucía Rodríguez 21-12, 14-21, 21-13 in a three-game contest at the Titan Gym in Fullerton, California. The win books them a place in the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF Super 300 event.
Who will Treesa and Gayatri face in the second round of US Open 2026?
The Indian pair will next take on Japan's Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi for a spot in the quarter-finals of the US Open 2026 badminton tournament.
How did Rounak Chouhan qualify for the US Open 2026 main draw?
Rounak Chouhan won two qualifying matches — defeating Enogat Roy of France 21-19, 21-16 and then Kuo Kuan-lin of Chinese Taipei 13-21, 21-14, 21-10 — to earn his place in the men's singles main draw.
Why is Treesa Jolly's performance at US Open 2026 significant?
Treesa Jolly had been sidelined for three months due to injury before returning to competition at the Indonesia Open earlier in June 2026. Her strong showing at the US Open marks a key milestone in her comeback.
Is Ayush Shetty defending his US Open men's singles title in 2026?
No. Defending men's singles champion Ayush Shetty will not be competing to defend the title he won at last year's US Open, leaving the men's singles draw open for a new winner.
