N Sriram Balaji secures first-ever win at French Open, strengthens bid for Paris Olympics

NEW DELHI: N Sriram Balaji strengthened his quest for a place in the Indian men's doubles squad for the Paris Olympics alongside Rohan Bopanna with a landmark victory at the French Open. Meanwhile, Yuki Bhambri, also vying for an Olympic spot, experienced an early exit. Despite this setback, Yuki showcased his adaptability, demonstrating formidable baseline skills and a dependable serve.Yuki, in partnership with Albano Olivetti, fell short against the Australian-Russian duo of John Peers and Roman Safiullin, succumbing 3-6, 6-7(5) in the tournament's opening round. Conversely, Balaji, a probable choice for Bopanna's Olympic pairing, collaborated effectively with Mexico's Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela Martinez to overcome American Reese Stalder and Dutch player Sem Verbeek with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4.Balaji has shown consistent growth in his doubles prowess over time. Bopanna closely observed Yuki's match, contemplating his options for a potential doubles partner.Throughout the match, Yuki and Olivetti encountered difficulties, creating opportunities for their opponents to capitalize on easy winners. Despite Yuki's determined efforts, he conceded his serve in the fourth game of the initial set, providing Peers and Safiullin with the momentum to seize control.In the subsequent set, Yuki and Safiullin found themselves locked in a tense battle, yet the formidable serves and returns from the Australian-Russian duo ensured they maintained their advantage. Although Yuki staved off a match point with a well-executed volley, Peers ultimately secured the win in a tie-breaker.On Saturday, India's premier players, Bopanna and Sumit Nagal, are scheduled to compete against each other in the opening round of the men's doubles. Nagal entered the draw alongside Austria's Sebastian Ofner as an alternate pairing.(Inputs from PTI)