Yuki Bhambri, Balaji can reach Wimbledon 2026 final: Vijay Amritraj
Synopsis
Vijay Amritraj isn't hedging — he believes both Indian men's doubles teams can reach the Wimbledon 2026 final. With Bhambri chasing an injury-free run and Balaji-Demoliner riding their Roland Garros quarter-final momentum onto grass, India's doubles hopes at the All England Club are the most credible they have been in years.
Key Takeaways
Vijay Amritraj has backed Yuki Bhambri and N.
Sriram Balaji to make deep runs at Wimbledon 2026 , potentially reaching the final.
Amritraj identified Bhambri's fitness — and the mental weight of recurring injuries — as the key variable for his campaign.
Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros 2026 , which Amritraj cited as a strong confidence base for the grass-court Grand Slam.
Amritraj stressed self-belief on big points as the decisive factor for the Balaji-Demoliner pairing.
India last won the Wimbledon men's doubles title in 1999 , through Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi .
Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj has thrown his weight behind Yuki Bhambri and N. Sriram Balaji as India's strongest contenders at Wimbledon 2026, asserting that both men's doubles pairings possess the quality to mount serious deep runs at the All England Club. Speaking ahead of their respective opening-round fixtures, Amritraj said fitness and belief could be the defining factors in an Indian breakthrough at the year's third Grand Slam.
Fitness the Key for Bhambri
Amritraj identified Yuki Bhambri's physical condition as the single most critical variable heading into the tournament. 'The most important thing with Yuki is whether he's fit enough. He's always had a few niggling injuries here and there, and they've almost become more of a mental issue than a physical one,' Amritraj said in an interview to JioStar.
The former India Davis Cup captain, who himself reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 18 in the world, urged Bhambri to shed caution and play with freedom. 'I really want him to be fit, go out there, go for broke, and play freely. He's had a great run in the doubles, and I think both the boys have a great chance of going deep in this tournament, perhaps even reaching the semi-finals, the final, and winning it,' he added.
Balaji-Demoliner Partnership Drawing Praise
N. Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner enter Wimbledon on the back of a quarter-final run at Roland Garros 2026 — a result Amritraj described as particularly impressive given the demands of clay-court doubles. 'To reach the quarter-finals on clay is even tougher because you're going to run down so many balls, and you can't always put them away. But they're playing well together, so I believe they've got a really good chance,' Amritraj said.
He argued that the Paris result should serve as a springboard on grass, where faster conditions could further suit the Indo-Brazilian pair's game. 'If they can make the quarter-finals in Paris, they can certainly make the semi-finals, even the final at Wimbledon,' he stated.
Self-Belief on the Big Points
Amritraj reserved a specific message for Balaji and Demoliner about performing under pressure. 'I think it's important for them to believe in themselves and go after it, especially on the big points,' he said. The pair's growing on-court chemistry, according to Amritraj, has reached a level where a maiden Grand Slam title is a realistic — not merely aspirational — target.
India's Wimbledon Doubles Hopes in Context
India has a storied doubles tradition at Wimbledon, with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi winning the men's doubles title there in 1999. A deep run by either Bhambri's pairing or the Balaji-Demoliner combination would mark India's most significant Wimbledon doubles presence in years. This comes amid a broader resurgence in Indian tennis, with several players climbing world rankings in both singles and doubles circuits.
Point of View
He is mapping a credible pathway. The Balaji-Demoliner quarter-final at Roland Garros on clay is the kind of result that transfers well to grass, where the faster surface should reduce the rally count and reward net aggression. The Bhambri fitness caveat, however, is real: his injury history has repeatedly interrupted momentum at exactly the wrong moments, and Amritraj is right to frame it as partly psychological by now. What mainstream coverage underplays is how structurally different Indian doubles tennis looks today — these are not wildcard entries riding reputation, but ranked teams with recent Grand Slam pedigree. Whether that translates into a title run depends on draw luck and, for Bhambri, staying on court.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Vijay Amritraj say about India's Wimbledon 2026 chances?
Vijay Amritraj said both Indian men's doubles teams — Yuki Bhambri's pairing and the Balaji-Demoliner combination — have a genuine chance of reaching the semi-finals, final, and potentially winning Wimbledon 2026. He made these remarks in an interview ahead of their opening-round matches.
Why is Yuki Bhambri's fitness a concern at Wimbledon 2026?
Bhambri has battled recurring injuries throughout his career, and Amritraj noted these have begun to carry a mental dimension beyond the physical. Amritraj urged Bhambri to play freely and 'go for broke' if he enters the tournament fit.
How did Balaji and Demoliner perform at Roland Garros 2026?
N. Sriram Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros 2026. Amritraj described that run as particularly impressive given the physical demands of clay-court doubles, and said it should give the pair confidence heading into Wimbledon.
Who is Marcelo Demoliner?
Marcelo Demoliner is a Brazilian professional tennis player who has been partnering India's N. Sriram Balaji in men's doubles on the ATP Tour. Their partnership has shown growing consistency, culminating in a Roland Garros 2026 quarter-final.
When did India last win the Wimbledon men's doubles title?
India last won the Wimbledon men's doubles title in 1999, when Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi claimed the trophy. A deep run by either current Indian pairing would be India's most significant Wimbledon doubles result in over two decades.
