Dhakshineswar Suresh Makes History with Breakthrough ATP Tour Victory at Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM: In a remarkable display of composure and power, Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh secured his first-ever ATP Tour victory on Monday, downing World No. 77 Marcos Giron in straight sets at the Winston-Salem Open.
The 26-year-old, currently ranked 394th in the world, delivered a commanding performance, firing 17 aces past his higher-ranked opponent to claim a 6-3, 7-5 victory in just over an hour. This historic win marks the first time an Indian singles player has won a first-round match at the ATP Tour level since Sumit Nagal’s victory over Lukas Klein in July 2024.
Suresh’s achievement places him in elite company; he becomes only the second Indian to win a main draw match at the Winston-Salem Open, following in the footsteps of Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who achieved the feat in 2019.
A Familiar Advantage
The 6-foot-5-inch athlete, a native of Madurai, found himself in advantageous territory. Currently a college tennis standout for Wake Forest University in North Carolina, Suresh leveraged his deep familiarity with the local courts and conditions to his benefit. Despite falling short in the qualifying rounds, he earned a “lucky loser” entry into the main draw for the second consecutive year—an opportunity he seized with both hands.
“First match of the day, in front of the home crowd and getting my first win on the ATP tour… it’s a really really special feeling,” Suresh said following the match. “Last couple of matches have been really tough, but I was lucky to get the lucky loser spot. I just came out here and had a little bit of fun.”
Clinical Performance
The match began with clinical efficiency as Suresh broke Giron early, racing through the first set in just 26 minutes. The second set presented a tighter contest, with both players holding serve in a high-stakes standoff until the 11th game. Suresh secured a critical breakthrough and eventually closed out the match with a sharp, angled smash, sealing his place in the second round.
“Definitely being at home helps because I am familiar with this place, the weather, the courts, and everything,” he added. “I was also able to use the crowd to get into the match. In the end, I was able to compete a little harder.”
Looking Ahead
Building on the momentum of his breakout performance during India’s Davis Cup success against the Netherlands earlier this year, Suresh now looks toward a daunting second-round matchup against Argentina’s eighth seed, Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Reflecting on his progression, the Indian prospect remains grounded. “This is my first time going into the second round of an ATP tournament… going in there will be nerves. I need to just play the same way I played today.”
