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In a career that has lasted more than a decade-and-a-half, the Indian has run the gamut of a professional tennis player. (File)
Yuki Bhambri’s semifinal run in the men’s doubles category of the 2025 US Open was a breakthrough after years of grinding on the tennis tour. But the 32-year-old from New Delhi is looking forward, not backwards.
In a career that has lasted more than a decade-and-a-half, the Indian has run the gamut of a professional tennis player. From his early prodigal status after an Australian Open junior title, to a long grind on the fringes of elite tennis where he battled it out in lower-rung singles tournaments, to a knee injury that nearly ended his career, to a resurgence via doubles. He knows the value of taking things step-by-step.
“I got to spend a few days with my sister just now and we were talking about how, this time four years ago, after the US Open, we were looking at options of what I need to do. I was close to leaving tennis when the knee was just not recovering,” he told The Indian Express. “Now I am sitting here trying to analyse what I could have done better to reach a Grand Slam final… I can get better and the journey is just about finding out how.”
And as Bhambri has seen his highs and lows, he has also seen the value of sticking by his early backers. Last year, he returned to work with his childhood coach, Aditya Sachdeva, now at the Roundglass Academy in Chandigarh. And he has implicitly trusted his tennis-mad family – both his sisters and cousins have played the sport.
“I’m fortunate to be part of a tennis-playing family. They know how the wins work and they know how the losses work. And they can be brutally honest with me. So it’s an added bonus for me and my career to have them,” he said.
In New York, Bhambri reached the semifinal alongside New Zealand’s Michael Venus. They were a set and a break up against the fourth-seeded British pair of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, before the result was overturned. Knowing that he was one tiebreaker away from a maiden Major final, Bhambri said there remains much more to learn for him to excel at this stage. Making sure to raise his level in the big moments can be the hallmark of a great player, but making sure it does not fall is a necessity.
“For almost two sets, we were the better team. But their experience and their attitude, of sticking around and taking their chances, is what took them over the line. So there is a lot to learn. Need to be more in control of my emotions and be prepared for the tight moments,” he said.
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The tournament represented plenty of positives though, especially the burgeoning partnership of the Indo-Kiwi pair. They defeated the fourth seeds in straight sets early in the tournament, and held their own in beating Rajeev Ram and Nikola Mektic in three tight sets in the quarterfinals.
The pair, who have known each other for more than a decade and featured in doubles together over the years, complement each other well. The partnership is based on Venus’ power – a prominent feature now on the doubles tour – and is supported by Bhambri’s impressive baseline endurance. “He has the power and dynamism. He depends on his serve and forehand to win big points whereas I have that stability so I can set up points for him to finish. That just gels together well,” Bhambri said.
The next goal is for 2026 and excelling in India colours. “It’s going to be a big year for me. Probably two Davis Cup ties and an Asian Games. Hopefully I can live up to the expectations,” he said.
English (US) ·