Did Yuki Bhambri and Andre Goransson Just Fall Short at the Australian Open?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Melbourne, Jan 26 (NationPress) India’s leading men’s doubles tennis player Yuki Bhambri and his partner from Sweden, Andre Goransson, faced elimination from the Australian Open after their defeat at the hands of Brazilian duo Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos in the third round on Monday.
Despite a strong performance, Luz and Matos clinched the first set, outmaneuvering Bhambri and Goransson during pivotal moments, ultimately winning 7-6 (9-7), 6-3. They managed to edge Bhambri and Goransson in short rallies (19-16) while committing fewer errors (-3).
In a tense opening-set tiebreak, Bhambri and Goransson showed great resilience, saving three set points from 3–6 and even gaining one at 7–6. However, just as it seemed the tide was turning in their favor, they faltered, dropping the next three points to lose the set.
The second set shifted drastically after a key moment. Serving at 3–2 with a break and holding two game points at 40–15, Goransson made consecutive double faults, allowing the Brazilian pair to reclaim the break. From that point on, Luz and Matos maintained their control, sealing the match in straight sets.
With Bhambri's exit from the men’s doubles, India’s campaign in the season's first Grand Slam came to a close. He was the last Indian competitor remaining after Sriram Balaji's partnership with Austrian player Neil Oberleitner ended in the second round following a 7-5, 6-1 loss to fourth seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic from Croatia.
This marks Bhambri’s first appearance in the men’s doubles third round at Melbourne Park since 2014, when he teamed up with New Zealand's Michael Venus. His most notable Grand Slam achievement occurred last year when he reached the semi-finals at the US Open.
In addition, Bhambri also competed in the mixed doubles, partnering with 2018 Wimbledon champion Nicole Melichar-Martinez from the USA, but they lost in the first round to the sixth-seeded combination of Zhang Shuai from China and Germany’s Tim Putz.