Yuki Bhambri wins doubles title at Dubai Tennis Championships after saving four match points

Yuki Bhambri wins doubles title at Dubai Tennis Championships after saving four match points

Yuki Bhambri and Alexei Popyrin came back from the brink of defeat to win the doubles title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event, on Saturday.

The Indo-Australian pair of Bhambri and Popyrin saved four championship points during the second set to beat reigning Australian Open champion and second-seeded Finnish-British pair of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten 3-6, 7-6(12), [10-8] in the summit clash.

It is the fourth title on the ATP Tour for the Indian and so far, his biggest one.

The victory capped off a brilliant week for Bhambri and Popyrin, who predominantly plays singles and is World No. 23.

The duo started its campaign by stunning World No. 1, Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia, 4-6, 7-6(1), [10-3]. In the quarterfinals, the Indo-Australian pair won 5-7, 7-6(5), [10-5] against the all-British team of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.

Bhambri and Popyrin reached the summit clash by defeating the British-Australian duo of Jamie Murray and John Peers 6-2, 4-6, [10-7] in the semifinals.

“We went match by match… We were so close to losing in the first round, so it’s unbelievable to be in the finals and to win it — I don’t think I ever dreamt of that. Alexei is an incredible player, we all know that he’s very good in singles, but I think he has a great doubles career ahead of him as well,” Bhambri told atptour.com.

Published on Mar 01, 2025