The Indo-Ecuadorian pair of Sriram Balaji (India) and Gonzalo Escobar (Ecuador) came up just short in the final of the ATP 125 Challenger event in Braunschweig, Germany, losing a hard-fought three-setter (6-4, 4-6, 8-10) to the Dutch team of Sander Arends and Robin Haase.
Despite a strong showing throughout the tournament, Balaji and Escobar finished as runners-up.
Olympic-bound tennis player Balaji will now partner with Rohan Bopanna for the upcoming ATP 500 tournament in Hamburg, a crucial preparation event for the Paris Olympics.
A Close Battle
The final wasn’t easy for the Indo-Ecuadorian pair. They faced an early setback when Balaji lost his serve in the first game, but they quickly bounced back. They secured the first set 6-4 with some stellar play from Escobar.
The second set was a battle of serves, with both pairs holding until the ninth game. Unfortunately, Balaji’s serve was broken again, and the Dutch took the set 6-4, forcing a super tiebreaker.
Super Tiebreaker Heartbreak
The super tiebreaker started well for Balaji and Escobar, but a double fault by Escobar changed the momentum. The Dutch capitalised on the opportunity, winning the super tiebreaker 10-8 and claiming the title.
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