N Sriram Balaji, Marcelo Demoliner upset sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz, Tim Puetz to reach French Open QFs
Paris, June 1
India's N Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals at the French Open on Monday, pulling off a stunning straight-sets upset over sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany, according to Olympics.com.
The unseeded Indo-Brazilian pair took one hour and 25 minutes to secure a 7-5, 6-4 upset over the experienced German duo, both Grand Slam champions, in their Round of 16 clash at Roland Garros.
The win also marked a landmark moment for 36-year-old Balaji, who reached his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal.
With this victory, Balaji and Demoliner have set up a formidable quarterfinal clash against the second-seeded pairing of Finland's Harri Heliovaara and Great Britain's Henry Patten.
Earlier in the tournament, the duo had defeated the unseeded German-Dutch pairing of Constantin Frantzen and Robin Haase in three sets, followed by a comfortable straight-sets win over Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner in the second round.
The Balaji-Demoliner duo defeated Mark Wallner and Jakob Schnaitter 7-5, 6-2 in their second-round match. The Indo-Brazilian duo broke the German pair in the crucial 11th game of the first set before holding serve to take the opener. In the second set, Balaji and Demoliner secured breaks in the first and seventh games to seal the match in one hour and 27 minutes.
In their first-round clash, Balaji and Demoliner defeated Germany's Constantin Frantzen and the Netherlands' Robin Haase 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. In the match, Balaji and Demoliner made a strong start, breaking Frantzen and Haase early in the third game to take control of the opening set. The Indo-Brazilian duo then earned a second break in the ninth game, converting their third set point to clinch the set advantage.
Frantzen and Haase fought back in the second set, breaking Balaji and Demoliner in the seventh game before holding their service games to level the match and force a deciding set. However, they slipped early in the final set, losing serve in the second game, which allowed Balaji and Demoliner to capitalise and close out the match, sealing their place in the second round.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I didn't expect much from an Indian doubles player at Roland Garros, but this is brilliant! Beating Krawietz and Puetz, both Grand Slam champions, shows Balaji's grit. Demoliner is a solid partner too. Nice to see India making waves in tennis beyond singles. 🇮🇳🎾
Big upset in the men's doubles at the French Open! Krawietz and Puetz are no pushovers, but Balaji and Demoliner played with great composure. The 7-5, 6-4 scoreline shows they took their chances when it mattered. Nice to see an Indian player in the mix. Best of luck for the quarters!
Superb performance from Sriram Balaji! At 36 years old, he's showing that age is just a number. The way they broke the Germans in the 11th game of the first set and then dominated the second set was clinical. This is what we need—more Indian tennis players shining on the big stage. 🙌
Impressive run for the Indo-Brazilian duo. Balaji's first Grand Slam quarterfinal is a big deal. But let's be real—their next match against the second seeds Heliovaara/Patten will be a massive test. Hope they can keep this momentum going. Tennis fans in India should be proud. 🎉
Fantastic news for Indian tennis! Balaji's hard work is paying off. The way they beat three German pairs in a row is no small feat. I just wish we
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