Sureshkumar shocks fifth seed, Indian stars shine on day 1 of ATP Delhi Open qualifiers

The first day of qualifying at the ATP Delhi Open 2026 produced thrilling tennis action and a major upset as Indian players delivered standout performances at the DLTA Complex.

The biggest story came from 26‑year‑old M Sureshkumar , who entered the event at the last minute and stunned fifth seed Lorenzo Carboni of Italy . After losing the first set 4‑6 , he fought back to take the next two 6‑2, 6‑3 in a match lasting just under two hours.

Ramkumar Ramanathan , competing on a wild card, also impressed with a straight‑sets win over Tsung‑Hao Huang of Chinese Taipei 6‑1, 6‑3 , advancing to the second and final qualifying round.

Other international qualifiers provided competitive matches. Luca Castelnuovo and Alexandr Binda won in straight sets, while top seed Denis Yevseyev battled through three sets to progress. Hyeon Chung and Uisung Park also registered wins, the latter upsetting ninth seed Mukund Sasikumar (IND) .

Some Indian entrants exited early, including Parth Aggarwal , Udit Kamboj , and Ishaque Eqbal , yet the home players showed resilience and competitive spirit against strong international opposition.

The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) confirmed main draw wildcards for Karan Singh , Manas Dhamne , and Digvijay Pratap Singh , ensuring exciting Indian representation in the main draw.

Looking Ahead:

Today the final qualifying round kicks off with six spots in the main singles draw up for grabs. Sureshkumar and Ramanathan aim to secure their places, while main draw action featuring headline Indian hope Sumit Nagal begins. Doubles competitions will run alongside the singles matches, promising another day of high‑intensity tennis at the DLTA Complex.