Indian tennis fans have plenty to cheer about this week as Yuki Bhambri, currently ranked World No. 32 in men’s doubles and India’s highest-ranked player in the category, has stormed into his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open 2025. Partnering with New Zealand’s Michael Venus, Bhambri broke new ground in New York after years of battling injuries and shifting focus from singles to doubles.
The duo clinched a dramatic victory in the quarterfinals, overcoming a pair of multiple Grand Slam champions in what Bhambri described as a “nerve-wracking” encounter. “It was a really tough match. Our opponents made it extremely difficult for us with their vast experience,” Bhambri said after the win, visibly emotional as he celebrated his career-best run at a major.
Making History After a Rocky Road
This achievement didn’t come out of nowhere. Bhambri and Venus entered Flushing Meadows on the back of mixed results—they bowed out early at both the Canada Masters 1000 and Cincinnati Masters 1000 events, losing tight match tiebreaks in the opening rounds. But their form picked up at Winston-Salem, where they reached the semifinals of the ATP 250 event, with Bhambri notably defeating fellow Indian Rohan Bopanna and his partner Arneodo in the quarters.
At the US Open, their run has been nothing short of remarkable. The pair notched back-to-back wins over higher-seeded duos, including a solid 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz in the round of 16. In their latest match, they grabbed an early break—Bhambri smashing a return winner to take a crucial 3-1 lead—and never looked back.
Career Breakthrough for Bhambri
For the 33-year-old Bhambri—once a junior world No. 1 and winner of the 2009 Australian Open boys’ title—this semifinal berth is a payoff for years of persistence. “It has been an incredibly nerve-wracking experience, and at this moment, there is a whirlwind of emotions,” he shared on Jio Hotstar.
With stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz grabbing headlines in singles, Bhambri and Venus have quietly scripted history for India in men’s doubles. Now just one match away from the final, Bhambri will be hoping to extend his dream run even further at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
