India’s top-ranked Sumit Nagal and local teenage sensation Manas Dhamne spearheaded a resurgent day for the hosts at the 2026 Maha Open, advancing to the second round of the Pune ATP Challenger on Tuesday. While Nagal produced a textbook demolition of Japan's Rio Noguchi, it was the 18-year-old Dhamne who provided the day's biggest shock at the Balewadi Stadium.
Dhamne, currently ranked 489th and entering as a wildcard, showcased nerves of steel to topple the red-hot Stefanos Sakellaridis. The Greek world No. 220 arrived in Pune as the Delhi Open champion, but he was unable to withstand the poise of the local favorite in a high-stakes second-set tie-break.
Sumit Nagal needed just 69 minutes to dismantle seventh seed Rio Noguchi with a 6-1, 6-2 scoreline. From the opening serve, Nagal dictated play with punishing depth from the baseline, never allowing the Japanese international to find a rhythm.
His movement and clinical finishing from the back of the court suggest a player fully adapted to the Balewadi conditions as he moves into the tournament's business end.
Upset: 18-year-old Manas Dhamne (No. 489) beat Stefanos Sakellaridis (No. 220) 6-4, 7-6(4).
Clinical Run: Sumit Nagal dropped just three games in his 6-1, 6-2 win.
Duration: Ilia Simakin [3] survived a 2-hour, 24-minute marathon against Mitsuki Leong.
International results: Sixth seed Federico Cina (ITA) cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win.
Facing a champion from the previous week's circuit is often a daunting task, but Manas Dhamne displayed maturity beyond his years. After securing a tight first set 6-4, the teenager refused to buckle when Sakellaridis pushed the second set to a tie-break. Dhamne's 7-6(4) victory sets up a high-profile second-round clash against former world No. 40 Ilya Ivashka on Wednesday.
The day was not as kind to the rest of the Indian contingent. Aditya Balsekar struggled against eighth seed Edas Butvilas, managing to claim only one game in a 6-0, 6-1 defeat. Similarly, Karan Singh fell 6-3, 6-1 to Polish qualifier Maks Kasnikowski, highlighting the rigorous standard of the ATP Challenger field.
Elsewhere, the tournament's third seed, Ilia Simakin, was pushed to the absolute limit. He eventually edged past Malaysia’s Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong in a 7-6(10) third-set thriller that kept the Balewadi crowd on the edge of their seats for over two hours.
As the singles main draw moves into the second round, all eyes remain on the two surviving Indians. Nagal’s clinical form makes him a heavy favorite for the quarterfinals, while Dhamne’s upcoming battle with Ilya Ivashka will be the ultimate test of whether the teenager's Maha Open fairytale has a few more chapters left.
