Maharashtra Open 2023: India’s only ATP 250 event, Maharashtra Open is all set to begin from 31st December 2022. While the qualifiers will be played till 1st January 2023. The main draw will begin from 2nd January. Top Indian players are featuring in the event and fans can witness and support some of the big names like Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri. InsideSport, takes a look at 5 local players who will take centre stage in the top-notch tennis event. All the matches will be played at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune. Follow Maharashtra Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Maharashtra Open 2023: From Yuki Bhambri to Ramkumar Ramanathan, Top 5 Indians who will be in action at Maharashtra Open 2023 – Check Out
Yuki Bhambri
Yuki Bhambri has made the cut to the qualifiers of Maharashtra Open this year based on his protected ranking of 127. He made his return to singles after two years in 2022. He was out of action for nearly two years before making a comeback last year. Bhambri, who is a former Junior World No.1 is focusing mainly on the doubles nowadays. However, he will be eager to make a mark in the Maharashtra Open this year.
Last year in the tournament, he gained a direct entry into the main draw. He defeated Slovakia’s Josef Kovalik in the first round. He however couldn’t go past the second round as he lost to eighth seed Stefano Travaglia in straight sets. His aim this year will be to advance to the main draw.
Ramkumar Ramanathan
Ramkumar Ramanthan won the doubles title along with Rohan Bopanna in the last edition. He will be making his fifth appearance at the Tata Open Maharashtra. This time, he will partner with Miguel Varela in the doubles.
The 28-year-old from Chennai is currently ranked 437th in Singles. It remains to be seen whether he receives a wildcard in singles in the upcoming edition.
Rohan Bopanna
Ace doubles player Rohan Bopanna is one of the popular names at the tournament. The veteran won the doubles title last year and is looking to emulate that performance in the upcoming edition. Last year he partnered alongside fellow compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan . However, this time he will be playing alongside Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp.
He already has won three titles in the country’s one of oldest sporting events. He won his first title way back in 2017 when the event was played in Chennai, alongside Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan. His second title was with Divij Sharan in Pune while he was crowned as the champion in 2021. He now aims to win back-to-back titles in the tournament for the first time.
Sumit Nagal
Sumit Nagal is set to feature in the qualifiers of the Maharashtra Open in the upcoming edition. Sumit Nagal is ranked outside the Top 500, however he enters Maharastra Open with a protected ranking of 218.
He last played in the ATP 250 event in 2020. He bowed out from the first round in the main draw back then. Sumit, who was ranked 136th in the world in 2020 suffered injuries last year. He underwent a hip surgery late in 2021 and made his return to the circuit in April this year. Nagal will be hoping to start the upcoming season afresh and targets a spot in the main draw in this year’s Maharashtra Open.
Sasikumar Mukund
Sasikumar Mukund is currently the top ranked Indian in singles. He is ranked 342 in the world. He is likely to receive a wildcard entry into the main draw of the Maharashtra Open 2023. The 25-year old did not win a single title in 2022. However he made it to the main draw in as many as 11 tournaments. His best performance came in Forli ATP 250 Challenger, where he finished as runner-up.
Maharashtra Open 2023: From Yuki Bhambri to Ramkumar Ramanathan, Top 5 Indians who will be in action at Maharashtra Open 2023 – Check Out
