Indian Challengers 2025

[Rajiv]

So it's official with 3 × 100 K and 1 x 125 to make it 4 Indian Challengers commencing from Feb 3rd/ 10th / 17th / 24th 2025 at Chennai, New Delhi , Pune, Bangalore.

[sameerph]

Yes, same number of challengers and same venues as in 2024 but they have upgraded New Delhi challenger from 75 to 100 and Bengaluru Challenger from 100 to 125.

With such a big level event, the field is going to be very strong. So, not sure if any of the Indians will be ready to make an impact in singles at this level except Sumit who we are not sure if he will be there. He may go for clay ATP 250's at same time in South America.

[ericcw]

Yes, same number of challengers and same venues as in 2024 but they have upgraded New Delhi challenger from 75 to 100 and Bengaluru Challenger from 100 to 125.

With such a big level event, the field is going to be very strong. So, not sure if any of the Indians will be ready to make an impact in singles at this level except Sumit who we are not sure if he will be there. He may go for clay ATP 250's at same time in South America.

I think you are under estimating the impact that Ramkumar Ramanathan will have.

[ericcw]

Any possibility of Nishesh playing here? He could do well too if he decides to come over

[sameerph]

Yes, same number of challengers and same venues as in 2024 but they have upgraded New Delhi challenger from 75 to 100 and Bengaluru Challenger from 100 to 125.

With such a big level event, the field is going to be very strong. So, not sure if any of the Indians will be ready to make an impact in singles at this level except Sumit who we are not sure if he will be there. He may go for clay ATP 250's at same time in South America.

I think you are under estimating the impact that Ramkumar Ramanathan will have.

Cannot predict anything about RamK in singles based on his play in last couple of years.

[Rajiv]

And to face the stark reality the bucket full points at stake wont benifit our players but would be to the advantage of foreigners in a way Mel Purcell dominated the last time.

Sumit at the most might play a solitary odd one and focusing on clay ATP's as Samir pointed out, At the most we may have some flashes of brilliance in singles coupled with regular dbls title's or finalists

[ericcw]

I think Nishesh if he plays can win one or two. Though of course he won't be with our flag as he is NRI.

Hope he considers coming over.

[Rajiv]

A rather dull entry list for the first leg Chennai Challenger with no notable names and not even a single Top 100 player,and this uninspiring list will remain more or less the same for the entire 4 weeks Indian sojourn.

Sumit as expected has skipped and no Indians figure in the list with Ram being the only Indian at a low #19 in the Alt list and the Indian interest will be restricted and comprising of only the WC’s and the doubles bandits, and as usual it is only foreign players and the tournament organisers who will benefit from this US$425,000 of 4 weeks jamboree.

Vit Kopriva
Billy Harris
Lloyd Harris
Duje Ajdukovic
Shintaro Mochizuki
Coleman Wong
Sho Simabukuro
Tomofey Skatov
Alexis Galarneau
Khumoyun Sultanov
Aslan Karatsev
Oriol Roca Batalla
Dalibor Svrcina
Zsombor Piros
Beibit Zhukayev
Rio Noguchi
Jay Clarke
Kyrian Jacquet
Enrico Dalla Valle
Ergi Kirkin
Corentin Denolly

[ericcw]

Coleman Wong is a big name. He is a future great. Hope he wins 2 of the 4 events

[prasen9]

Really? I do not think he will be a great. He will be a very good player, but, great, no.

[Rajiv]

Coleman Wong is a big name. He is a future great. Hope he wins 2 of the 4 events

Of course he is a good prospect , and follow him ardently being from my hometown and also knowing him , but at 125 in the middle of the year on the cusp of breaking into the top 100 has regressed a bit and is now in the 170's and will be a long climb back to his potential.
Today at Nonthaburi won his opening round in straight sets against the German/Lebanese ,Benjamin Hassan and next faces the American Brandon Holt for a place in the QF.

[sameerph]

Sumit as expected has skipped and no Indians figure in the list with Ram being the only Indian at a low #19 in the Alt list and the Indian interest will be restricted and comprising of only the WC’s and the doubles bandits, and as usual it is only foreign players and the tournament organisers who will benefit from this US$425,000 of 4 weeks jamboree.

There is also Mukund who is now ranked higher than RamK at alternate #14. But, you are right, no Indian player is likely to get directly into main draw in these 4 challengers. The wild cards will be the lowest ranked players in the draw. So, even 1 win for an Indian in singles will be rare.

At this stage of our mens tennis, I am not convinced such big challengers will help our players. Probably would have been better to host a lot more smaller ITF M25's or smaller 50 level challengers.

[Rajiv]

^^^ Yes thats what I meant when our put up that 425k wasteful figure, instead should have financed a bunch of juniors with a 6 month to 1 year program or put in glut of ITF's as right now only the TOURNAMENT ORGANISORS would be rubbing their hands in glee.

And in all of this we also have the least insignificant DC ties going to take place ever since we started playing and are playing Burkina Faso or Vanuatu or whatever that nation is..

[Rajiv]

I think Nishesh if he plays can win one or two. Though of course he won't be with our flag as he is NRI.

Hope he considers coming over.

Rajeev Ram is mentoring him , so one of the subjects from Rajeev's Book is also about how he avoided India and stayed away from comming over and surely he would be imparting that Gyan on how to handle the India issue in the manner in which he handled it, as mentorship is not about how to hit a forehand but just about saying the right things and sharing own personal opinion on Tennis and on and off court matters as they have a lot in common like Indian heritage and being born as Americans.

That is why Rajeev Ram's exploits never excited me or was even remotely intrested as much as Sunil Kumar, Yuki , Somdev exploits did.
So for me whatever Basureddy or Jao Fonseca or the Next Gen's achieve is one and the same.

[sameerph]

^^^ Yes thats what I meant when our put up that 425k wasteful figure, instead should have financed a bunch of juniors with a 6 month to 1 year program or put in glut of ITF's as right now only the TOURNAMENT ORGANISORS would be rubbing their hands in glee.

How will the tournament organisers also benefit ? There is no rush for tickets or anything for these challenger level events neither is there any TV telecast.