Will any Indian tennis player compete at Australian Open 2026?
(Courtesy : @niki_kpoonacha/Instagram)
No singles representation from India for the first time in two years.
Australian Open 2026, the first Grand Slam of the year commencing on January 18 at Melbourne Park, will witness a notable absence from Indian tennis in the singles events.
For the first time in recent years, no Indian player has secured a spot in either the men’s or women’s singles main draw or qualifying rounds. This marks a challenging phase for India’s singles campaign on the global stage.
India’s top-ranked men’s singles player, Sumit Nagal, who made waves in previous editions, including a memorable upset over Alexander Bublik in 2024 and a direct main draw entry in 2025, failed to make the cut this time. His current ranking of #278, sits well outside the qualifying threshold.
Nagal competed in the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff in Chengdu, China, but exited in the quarter-finals against China’s Yunchaokete Bu. On the women’s side, the highest-ranked Indian player, Sahaja Yamalapalli (around No. 330), also fell short of the required ranking cutoff.
This absence highlights the growing depth and competitiveness in international singles tennis, where accumulating ranking points through Challenger and ATP events has become increasingly difficult for Indian athletes.
Also Read: Australian Open 2026: Updated schedule, fixtures, results, live streaming details
Despite the singles setback, Indian representation shines in the doubles category, offering a ray of optimism. Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha, a rising star in Indian doubles, earned a prestigious main-draw wildcard for the men’s doubles event.
Partnering with Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro, the Indo-Thai duo triumphed in the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff final, defeating Japan’s Seita Kusuhara and Katsuki Nakagawa 6-4, 6-3.
This victory marks a major career milestone for the 30-year-old Poonacha, who broke into the top 100 doubles rankings in 2025 and now makes his Grand Slam main-draw debut.
Adding to India’s doubles presence is Yuki Bhambri, who is poised to shoulder the nation’s legacy following the retirement of stalwarts like Rohan Bopanna.
Bhambri, now a top-25 doubles player after a strong 2025 season, including an ATP 500 title and a US Open final, will now partner Sweden’s Andre Goransson, entering Melbourne as the ninth seeded team.
As the tournament unfolds from January 12 (with qualifying) to the main draw, Indian fans will rally behind their doubles stars, hoping for strong performances that could inspire the next generation.
While singles progress remains a work in progress, the doubles contingent underscores India’s enduring strength in team formats.
Which Indian tennis players will compete at Australian Open 2026?
Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Yuki Bhambri will be India’s representation at the Australian Open 2026.
Will any Indian singles player participate at Australian Open 2026?
No, singles players from India across divisions have failed to qualify for the first Major of the tennis season.
Will Sumit Nagal compete at Australian Open 2026?
Sumit Nagal failed to qualify for the main draw of the Australian Open after exiting in the quarter-finals of the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff in Chengdu.
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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.