Indian tennis star Yuki Bhambri clinched his first career tour title as he won the doubles crown on the grass courts at ATP Mallorca Open on Saturday.
Bhambri, in the company of South Africa's Lloyd Harris, defeated Robin Haase and Philipp Oswald 6-3, 6-4 in the ATP 250 final. The scratch pair of Bhambri-Harris completed their title run without losing a set.
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"Winning the first ATP title is definitely a dream," Bhambri said after the match.
"When you grow up, this is what you dream about playing, competing at the big events. Since I made the switch to doubles last year, it's been a tough journey but very rewarding. I'm so happy and glad that all the hard work that I have been putting in over the last year and a half is finally paying rich dividends."
Doubles Final‼️
— Mallorca Championships (@MallorcaChamps) July 1, 2023
🇮🇳Bhambri/🇿🇦Harris vs 🇳🇱Haase/🇦🇹Oswald@atptour | @ATPTour_ES | #MallorcaChampionships pic.twitter.com/iKC34kxWJj
A former boys' champion at the Australian Open, Bhambri's singles career was cut short due to injury. Last year, he made the switch to doubles and had already broken into the top-100 on the ATP doubles charts.
At the Mallorca Open, the 30-year-old Indian paired with Harris at the last minute. The duo knocked out fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the quarter-finals and top seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the semis.
"Really happy to be winning again in Mallorca," Bhambri added. "I won the Challenger here in August last year and to come back and win the ATP title, my first ATP title, it's been incredible. Also a very relaxing win, it's been fun to play with Lloyd, a very last-minute pairing. Very thankful and grateful to him as well. He's been on fire this whole week, with singles as well (Harris reached singles semi-final). Great friend and a great partner."
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Bhambri and Harris converted on four of six break points in their final victory. Aided by eight aces, they won 90 per cent of their first-serve points and faced just two break points, saving one.
The Indian moved up to No. 58 in the ATP Doubles Live Rankings with the title, setting himself up for a new career high.
