Maharashtra Open 2023: India’s N Sriram Balaji-Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan lose doubles final

The Indian pair of N Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan lost to Belgium’s Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in the Maharashtra Open 2023 men’s doubles final at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Saturday.

The Indian duo, who entered the tournament as an alternative pair, lost the match to the fourth-seeded Belgians 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 10 minutes. 

It was the sixth ATP Tour title for Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, who defeated US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the semi-finals on Friday. 

Earlier in the competition, N Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan had stunned the American second seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in the quarter-finals. The Indian tennis players also overcame Britain’s Julian Cash and Henry Patten in the semis.

N Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan started the match positively and held the first game. However, the Indian tennis players were soon broken and conceded the first set despite doing well in patches.

The Indian duo, playing their maiden ATP Tour final since making tour-level debut as a team in 2012, were broken early in the second set as well. Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen did not take their foot off the gas and wrapped the match in straight sets.

Maharashtra Open is South Asia’s only ATP 250 event conducted annually.

In the singles final, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands mounted a comeback to defeat Benjamin Bonzi of France 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. It was Griekspoor’s maiden ATP Tour singles title.

Maharashtra Open 2023 winners

Men’s doubles: Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen (Belgium)

Men’s singles: Tallon Griekspoor (Netherlands)