Mumbai: Yuki Bhambri was beaming as he held the ATP Dubai Open trophy in his arms. In all his years as an expert tennis participant, the doubles title he received on the weekend partnering Australia’s Alexei Popyrin was the most important he has achieved.
India’s Yuki Bhambri and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin through the Dubai Open. (REUTERS)
And with the glittering trophy – a silver boat sitting atop a plinth – Bhambri sailed into the world doubles high 40 for the primary time.
“I made the semi-finals in Doha (a week prior). You sort of know that you’re getting close but just not close enough to winning the title,” he tells HT. “I think this (win) was a very, very big one for me. It was a nice feeling to be able to get my hands on the trophy.”
Leaping up 5 locations within the rating ladder, the 32-year-old from New Delhi is now the world No.39 in doubles. Popyrin is the world No.27 in singles.
“It has been extremely tough and cutthroat,” Bhambri says in regards to the rating climb. “But I think it’s been a small step in the right direction.”
Bhambri, the 2009 Australian Open junior boys champion was as soon as the Indian singles No.1. He broke into the highest 100 in singles twice, peaking at 83 in April 2018. However for all his ability with the racquet, his physique struggled to deal with the physicality of the game.
He successfully stopped taking part in singles in 2023, focusing solely on doubles.
“There’s still a lot of work that is to be done – you still have to have your ice baths and stay with the regular routine,” he says. “In singles, you’re on the court running for hours, hitting ball after ball. In doubles you spend a lot of time at the net. The pace is faster and the duration (of rallies) is not that long. You’re almost going from a marathon runner to becoming a sprinter.”
The opposite a part of the doubles grind is discovering a associate, which has confirmed to be a selected battle for Bhambri over the previous few weeks. His common associate, Frenchman Albano Olivetti, suffered an elbow damage early within the season and has been sidelined. Since then, Bhambri has paired up with Ivan Dodig (reaching the Qatar Open semis) and Matwe Middelkoop.
However there was loads of uncertainty coming into Dubai.
Bhambri has identified Popyrin’s coach Neville Godwin through the years. Importantly although, the Indian knew that the Australia No.2 relies in Dubai and was competing within the singles.
“I sort of took a chance, hoping that if he’s at home he might want to play a little bit of doubles this week since singles players sporadically play doubles,” Bhambri provides.
“He agreed. And five days later, we’re Dubai champions.”
Bhambri’s inventory has grown, notably after his newest win. And with it, his confidence.
“You always look towards a higher level or challenge. For me it has been the ATP 500s or the Masters, and even the Grand Slams,” he says. “Every win you get there makes you believe more that the things I’m doing is helping me get on the right track. So, I’m hoping this is the beginning of many bigger events and not the end.”
Subsequent on the agenda is the season’s first ATP 1000 Masters occasion at Indian Wells, United States. Bhambri will group up with Sweden’s Andre Goransson. After that, he’ll play within the Miami Masters with Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
“The grind continues,” he concludes.