Dhakshineswar Suresh stuns World No. 77 at Winston-Salem Open 2026
(Courtesy :Â Getty Images)
Suresh is only the second Indian man to win a main draw match at Winston-Salem
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Dhakshineswar Suresh made a memorable statement on his ATP Tour debut, defeating #77 Marcos Giron 6-3, 7-5 in just 67 minutes at the Winston-Salem Open.
Entering as a lucky loser, the 26-year-old Wake Forest alumnus was expected to struggle against the experienced American, but he never let Giron settle into any rhythm.
Backing a heavy first serve with confident groundstrokes, Suresh broke early in both sets and held firm under pressure to close out the biggest win of his career.
The result capped off an extraordinary week for the Indian. Suresh entered qualifying and beat Roger Pascual Ferra in a battling three-setter, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, firing 12 aces along the way.
He carried that same serving power into the second qualifying round against Abedallah Shelbayh, but ended up losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 despite striking 10 more aces.
Denied a direct spot in the main draw, the 26-year-old got a lifeline as a lucky loser and made the most of it. What stands out most about Suresh is his serve. Standing six foot six, he generates serious pace and awkward angles that few players on the Challenger circuit are equipped to handle.
He made headlines earlier this year during the Davis Cup tie, when he played a key role in India’s historic triumph over Netherlands.
Suresh is not the first Indian to feature in a Winston-Salem main draw. Prajnesh Gunneswaran appeared here in 2019 as a direct entrant and won the first round against Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, before losing in the second round to top seed Benoît Paire.
DK Suresh next prepares for a tough assignment in the second round, as he will be up against eighth seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Who did Dhakshineswar Suresh defeat in the first round of Winston-Salem Open 2026?
Suresh stunned World No. 77 Marcos Giron of the USA in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.
Why is Dhakshineswar Suresh’s win over Marcos Giron so significant for Indian tennis?
This is Suresh’s best win in his still-young ATP career. Marcos Giron is also the highest-ranked (#77) opponent that the Indian has beaten to date. His win in the first round of the ATP 250 Winston-Salem also makes DK Suresh only the second Indian man to win a main draw match in the tournament.
Who will Dhakshineswar Suresh face in the second round of Winston-Salem Open?
Suresh will be up against eighth seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina in the round of 32. The match is scheduled for later tonight.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.