In the world of tennis, the MahaOpen Challenger stands out as a tournament that not only puts India on the map but also contributes significantly to the development of top 100 players worldwide. Organized by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association, this ATP Challenger, which began in Pune in 2014, has proven to be a crucial platform for emerging tennis talent.
After a hiatus during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament resumed in 2023, maintaining its status as a premier event in the ATP Challenger circuit. The tournament has consistently propelled players, not just from India but around the globe, into the top 100 rankings, making it a vital fixture on the tennis calendar.
Spearheaded by tournament director Sunder Iyer, along with Honorary Secretary of MSLTA, Mr. Prashant Sutar, the MahaOpen Challenger has a rich history of nurturing champions. Players like Yuki Bhambri, who remains the only two-time singles event winner, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, and Ramkumar Ramanathan have all utilized their success in the tournament to break into the top 100-120 singles rankings, earning them coveted spots in major international events.
The tournament’s impact is not limited to Indian players alone; it has also been instrumental in boosting the careers of international players. Past winners such as Yūichi Sugita (Japan), Sadio Doumbia (France), Elias Ymer (Sweden), James Duckworth, and Max Purcell (Australia) have all climbed into the top 100 world rankings after their triumphs at the MahaOpen Challenger.
The doubles event has witnessed Indian pairs dominating, with five out of seven victories going to the homegrown talents. The recent win by Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth in 2023, who received a wildcard entry, highlights the tournament’s ability to catapult even lesser-known players into the top 100 rankings.
As the MahaOpen Challenger unfolds this year, with Sumit Nagal leading as the top seed and other top Indian players vying for success, the stage is set for another player to break into the top 100 in either singles or doubles, reinforcing the tournament’s legacy as a breeding ground for tennis excellence.
Past Winners:
- 2014 Yūichi Sugita (Japan) bt Adrián Menéndez Maceiras (Spain) 6–7(1–7), 6–4, 6–4
- 2015 Yuki Bhambri (India) bt Russia Evgeny Donskoy 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
- 2016 Sadio Doumbia (France) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran (India) 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
- 2017 Yuki Bhambri (India) bt Ramkumar Ramanathan (India) 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
- 2018 Elias Ymer (Sweden) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran (India) 6–2, 7–5
- 2019 James Duckworth (Australia) bt Jay Clarke (United Kingdom) 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
- 2020–2022 Not held
- 2023 Max Purcell (Australia) bt Luca Nardi (Italy) 6–2, 6–3
Doubles Winners:
- 2014 Saketh Myneni / Sanam Singh (India) bt Sanchai Ratiwatana / Sonchat Ratiwatana (Thailand) 6–3, 6–2
- 2015 Gerard Granollers / Adrián Menéndez Maceiras (Spain) bt Maximilian Neuchrist (Austria) / Divij Sharan (India) 1–6, 6–3, [10–6]
- 2016 Purav Raja / Divij Sharan (India) bt Luca Margaroli (Switzerland) / Hugo Nys (France) 3–6, 6–3, [11–9]
- 2017 Tomislav Brkić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) / Ante Pavić (Croatia) bt Pedro Martínez / Adrián Menéndez Maceiras (Spain) 6–1, 7–6(7–5)
- 2018 Vijay Sundar Prashanth / Ramkumar Ramanathan (India) bt Hsieh Cheng-peng / Yang Tsung-hua (Chinese Taipei) 7–6(7–3), 6–7(5–7), [10–7]
- 2019 Purav Raja / Ramkumar Ramanathan (India) bt Arjun Kadhe / Saketh Myneni 7–6(7–3), 6–3
- 2020–2022 Not held
- 2023 Anirudh Chandrasekar / Vijay Sundar Prashanth (India) bt Toshihide Matsui / Kaito Uesugi Japan 6–1, 4–6, [10–3]
