New York, Sep 4 – India's Yuki Bhambri has reached a significant milestone in his tennis career, advancing to his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open. Teaming up with New Zealand's Michael Venus, Bhambri excelled in the men's doubles event.
The Indo-Kiwi duo caused a major upset by defeating the 11th-seeded team of Nikola Mektic and Rajeev Ram with scores of 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3 in a tense quarterfinal match on Court 17.
Previously, Bhambri and Venus knocked out the fourth seeds, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, in the pre-quarterfinal stage, showcasing their strong performance throughout the tournament.
For Bhambri, aged 33, this achievement is especially significant given his persistent battle with injuries and the shift from singles to doubles play. The former junior world No. 1 and 2009 Australian Open boys’ champion has now attained his best result in a senior Grand Slam.
Reflecting on the experience, Bhambri expressed his emotions during an interview on Jio Hotstar: "It has been an incredibly nerve-wracking experience, and at this moment, there is a whirlwind of emotions." He added, "We are simply grateful to have prevailed in such a challenging match. Our opponents made it extremely difficult for us with their vast experience as multiple Grand Slam champions, and competing against them truly tested our resolve at every stage."
Discussing the reunification with Venus, Bhambri said, "The timing felt right" to join forces again. "I am genuinely pleased to be by his side on the court. Having faced him multiple times as an opponent, I always preferred partnering with him rather than playing against him."
The journey, starting from the US summer tournament in Washington, has been exhilarating for the pair: "We are happy with the progress we’ve made together." This result adds to India's rich legacy in men's doubles, where legends like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Rohan Bopanna have left their mark.
The match's pivotal moment came when Bhambri scored a service return winner on Mektic's serve, earning a 3-1 lead in the first set. Although Venus faced pressure in his subsequent service game, he maintained composure to consolidate the break. Bhambri secured the first set with a clean volley winner on Ram's return.
Despite an early setback in the second set, allowing Mektic and Ram to mount a comeback, Bhambri and Venus managed to reclaim momentum. Although the set extended into a tiebreaker which the opponents eventually won, Bhambri redeemed himself by saving a crucial break point in the deciding set's third game.
The decisive break came in game eight, where Bhambri's angled backhand forced an error from Mektic, establishing a 5-3 lead. Serving for the match, Venus faced substantial pressure at 0-40 but, with Bhambri, managed to save five break points, ultimately sealing the win when Ram's return struck the net.
Next, Bhambri and Venus will challenge the sixth-seeded British team of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski for a spot in the final.
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