The Indian men's doubles team of Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth have made a stunning debut at the US Open, advancing to the second round after an impressive upset. The duo, who entered the main draw as last-minute alternates, overcame a set deficit to defeat the eighth-seeded local favorites, Christian Harrison and Evan King, in a thrilling match at New York. This victory marks their first-ever Grand Slam win in their third Grand Slam appearance.
Chandrasekar and Prashanth displayed composure and skill, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted one hour and 42 minutes. Their performance was highlighted by a superior first and second serve, which proved to be a decisive factor against the American pair. The win not only secures their spot in the next round but also demonstrates their ability to compete and win against higher-ranked opponents on the biggest stage.
They will face a new challenge in the second round. As they are set to take on the pair of Fernando Romboli from Brazil and John-Patrick Smith from Australia. The Indian duo will look to build on their momentum and continue their unexpected run in the tournament.
This victory comes as a significant boost for Indian tennis, especially after fellow Indian players Rithvik Bollipalli and N. Balaji were eliminated in the first round. Bollipalli and Balaji fought hard in their match against Bart Stevens and Vasil Kirkov but ultimately fell short, losing 6-3, 6-7(10), 4-6.