Rising India star Manas Dhamne shall be competing alongside the World No. 17 Marin Cilic and different world stars on the fifth version of Tata Open Maharashtra because the 15-year-old tennis prodigy has been given a wildcard within the singles primary draw of South Asia’s solely ATP 250 occasion, going down on the Balewadi Stadium in Pune from December 31 to January 7.
The Pune-born teenager is the present Asian Junior champion and one of many youngest to clinch that title. Dhamne has additionally been chosen for the Grand Slam Participant Grant Programme 2023.
“We’re delighted to announce Manas Dhamne because the third wildcard. He’s a really gifted participant and I’m certain this event will assist him vastly in his profession. It’s not normal for Indian gamers to play alongside world’s prime gamers at such a younger age however that’s what this event is thought for, constructing India’s future and offering alternatives for Indian gamers. I’m certain Dhamne will impress the group with present,” Prashant Sutar, Event Director of Tata Open Maharashtra and Chairman of Maharashtra State Garden Tennis Affiliation, commented.
“Manas Dhamne has been making fast strides. He has a possible to be the following Indian star and we’re dedicated to present a world-class platform to gamers like him, serving to them bolster their progress on the worldwide stage. We’ve got robust names this yr and to play in opposition to them goes to be an thrilling expertise for Dhamne. I want him the perfect,” stated Sunder Iyer, Joint Secretary of All India Tennis Affiliation and Secretary of Maharashtra State Garden Tennis Affiliation.
The wildcard additionally got here as a birthday current for Dhamne, who turned 15 on Thursday. He shall be making his maiden look on the ATP Tour in entrance of the house followers in India’s greatest tennis event, which is being performed by the Maharashtra State Garden Tennis Affiliation (MSLTA) in affiliation with the Authorities of Maharashtra for the fifth yr in Pune.
In Might, Dhamne appeared within the Challenger occasion in Italy and he additionally performed two ITF occasions in Tunisia earlier this month. He’ll face the World No. 113 American Michael Mmoh within the opening spherical match on Monday.
Apart from the 2014 US Open champion Cilic, the singles subject additionally consists of 17 High-100 gamers.
In the meantime, the attracts have been additionally revealed on Saturday because the top-seeded Cilic will kickstart his marketing campaign within the second spherical together with the final version’s finallist Emil Ruusuvuori, World No. 35 Botic van de Zandschulp and World No. 43 Sebastian Baez, who all obtained byes within the opening spherical.
Within the doubles, defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan will play in opposition to one another within the opening spherical. Bopanna will play together with van de Zandschulp whereas Ramanathan has partnered with Mexican Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela. High-seeded pair of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury shall be up in opposition to Baez and Luis David Martinez.
The draw ceremony happened within the presence of Tata Open Maharashtra Treasurer Sanjay Khandare, IAS, together with Prashant Sutar, Event Director of Tata Open Maharashtra and Chairman of Maharashtra State Garden Tennis Affiliation, Sunder Iyer, Joint Secretary of All India Tennis Affiliation and Secretary of Maharashtra State Garden Tennis Affiliation. Dhamne and Ruusuvuori have been additionally current on the event.
The distinguished event, owned by IMG and managed by RISE Worldwide, is sponsored by Tata Motors.
The principle draw will happen from January 2 to 7.