The Dafa News Bengaluru Open 2026, an ATP Challenger 125 tournament, reached its climax in the semi-finals at the iconic SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru. This event, broadcast live on Doordarshan Sports’ YouTube channel, highlighted intense competition among top international players. While India’s singles hopes ended in the quarter-finals with defeats for Manas Dhamne and Dhakshineswar Suresh, the doubles campaign also concluded in the semis. Top seed Pedro Martinez of Spain and sixth-seeded Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan emerged victorious in singles, setting up an exciting final showdown.
Singles Semi-Finals: High Drama on the Court
Pedro Martinez Overcomes Matteo Martineau in a Tense Battle
In the first semi-final, World No. 96 Pedro Martinez from Spain faced off against France’s Matteo Martineau (World No. 319) in a match that lasted one hour and 38 minutes. The encounter was a tale of two sets: a tightly contested first set that went to a tie-break, followed by a dominant second set from Martinez.
Martineau started aggressively, breaking Martinez’s serve in the sixth game to lead 4-2 with a fine cross-court pass. Martinez quickly responded, breaking back with a cross-court backhand pass. The set saw multiple pressure moments, including Martinez saving a break point in the eighth game and both players fending off breaks in the 11th. Ultimately, Martinez clinched the tie-break 7-4, capitalizing on Martineau’s 18th unforced error—a backhand gone awry.
The second set was a masterclass from Martinez, who broke early to lead 2-0 and again to 4-0, showcasing his all-round game with shots like a down-the-line forehand on the run and a looping backhand down the line. He sealed the match with a clinical drop volley, winning 6-1. Martinez, who has a career-high ranking of 36 and notable wins over players like Holger Rune and Stan Wawrinka in 2025, reflected post-match: “I am very happy with the way I played the second part of the match. Winning the first set gave me confidence, and I was able to raise my level in the second, which was the key.”
Timofey Skatov Upsets Harold Mayot
The second semi-final pitted Kazakhstan’s Timofey Skatov (World No. 235) against second-seeded Harold Mayot of France (World No. 167). Skatov delivered a composed performance, winning 6-4, 6-3 in just one hour and 14 minutes. Outplaying Mayot with consistent baseline play, Skatov secured the breaks needed to advance, demonstrating his growing prowess on the Challenger circuit.
Doubles Action: India’s Campaign Ends
In doubles, India’s top-seeded pair of N. Sriram Balaji and Austria’s Neil Oberleitner, who had advanced to the semi-finals, faced a tough challenge from the third-seeded French duo of Arthur Reymond and Luca Sanchez. The match was a thriller, featuring early breaks and intense rallies, but the French pair edged out a victory in two tie-breaks: 7-6(4), 7-6(3) after one hour and 37 minutes.
The other doubles semi-final saw Colombia’s Nicolas Barrientos and USA’s Benjamin Kittay defeat the Dutch team of Max Houkes and Niels Visker 7-6(6), 6-3. Reymond and Sanchez will now face Barrientos and Kittay in the doubles final.
Looking Ahead: The Championship Matches
With the semi-finals wrapping up, all eyes turn to the finals on January 10, 2026. Pedro Martinez, aiming to add another Challenger title to his resume, will battle Timofey Skatov in singles. The doubles final promises more excitement between the French and Colombian-American pairs. This tournament, marking its 10th edition, continues to elevate Bengaluru’s status on the global tennis map.
