French Open 2025: Changing companions, clay remains the real test for Yuki Bhambri | Tennis News

Yuki Bhambri of India (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: As the clay court docket season reaches its massive stage with Roland Garros, it as soon as once more reinforces the level in Indian tennis that the focus is on doubles and never singles. Leading the cost on that entrance is Yuki Bhambri, who was as soon as the flag bearer in the singles division.The 12 months, although, didn’t start as Bhambri may need hoped. At the Australian Open, partnering Albano Olivetti, the duo bowed out in the first spherical.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!What has adopted is a string of companion modifications, not by design however by necessity, as Olivetti’s harm and the risky nature of the rankings compelled Bhambri to adapt.His journey resumed with Croatian veteran Ivan Dodig at the ATP 250 in Montpellier. Since then, the Indian ace has needed to recalibrate usually. 2025 has to date witnessed Bhambri partnering with seven totally different gamers in 13 tournaments.
Despite the instability, the outcomes converse volumes. Bhambri (and Alexei Popyrin) clinched the ATP 500 title in Dubai, made it to the quarters at Indian Wells and Miami, and have become India’s No. 1 in doubles, overtaking Rohan Bopanna, who had held that place since October 2019.Speaking to TimesofIndia.com earlier than the Madrid Open, Bhambri acknowledged the highs and lows, “I think it’s part and parcel of our tennis, of rankings going up and down. I think tennis rewards you for consistency, and I’ve had good success over the last few months or so, which has just shown in the rankings.”

Yuki Bhambri of India and Alexei Popyrin of Australia have fun with their trophies (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)

But now comes one other test, the clay. On the pink filth, Bhambri hasn’t had the greatest leads to the run-up to the French Open. Four of his final 5 clay appearances resulted in first-round exits, with Robert Galloway being his common companion in the newest tournaments.The 32-year-old, nonetheless, remains undeterred.“When you move on to clay, it’s a lot slower. So you have to have a lot more patience. You have to be prepared to hit a lot of balls. You have to be prepared to slide on the court, find your footing, you know, be prepared for the bad bounces at times. So you’re playing a very slow and patient game,” he added.The solely exception to Bhambri’s clay troubles got here in Bordeaux, partnering Galloway once more. The pair fought in the ATP Challenger ultimate however fell simply quick, shedding 6-7(1), 6-7(2) to the fourth-seeded pairing of Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler.

His dethroning of Bopanna ended a 286-week reign, coupled with a gentle upward pattern in his doubles rankings since the COVID-19 pandemic, signalling a altering of guard. The outdated warhorse Boppana has once more occupied the India No.1 spot in newest ATP doubles rankings.Still, Bhambri, who spends his days again in India mentoring children at Roundglass Tennis Academy alongside his childhood coach Aditya Sachdeva, is much from glad.“I think the ultimate goal is to try and do better from here, to try and compete for more trophies. The French (Open) coming up, Wimbledon coming up soon in July, those would be the two key goals where I would really like to hopefully put my best foot forward and succeed,” ht famous. There’s respect too, for the man he succeeds: “Rohan has been an incredible ambassador for Indian tennis. Even now, he competes at the highest level. There’s a lot to learn from him.”With Roland Garros simply round the nook, the parts of one thing exceptional are there, however the massive query remains: Can Bhambri, amid all the modifications and challenges, discover the proper method on clay? Indian tennis received’t have to attend lengthy for a solution.