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Stefanos Sakellaridis Stages Epic Comeback to Win Delhi Open Singles Title

Greece's Stefanos Sakellaridis captured his first ATP Challenger Tour singles title with a dramatic comeback victory over Great Britain's Oliver Crawford at the Delhi Open. The 21-year-old won the final 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(6) in a match lasting over three hours, saving the contest after trailing 2-5 in the deciding set. Sakellaridis praised the "big battle" and stated the win is a major step towards qualifying for Grand Slam tournaments. In the doubles event, the title was won by the pair of Siddhanth Banthia and Alexander Donski.

Key Points: Sakellaridis Wins Delhi Open in Thrilling Final Comeback

  • Maiden ATP Challenger title for Sakellaridis
  • Victory in a 3-hour 9-minute thriller
  • Came from 2-5 down in the deciding set
  • Win earns 75 ATP ranking points
3 min read

Unseeded Stefanos Sakellaridis registers incredible come-from-behind win to secure Delhi Open singles title

Unseeded Greek Stefanos Sakellaridis wins his first ATP Challenger title at the Delhi Open, defeating Oliver Crawford in a dramatic three-set final.

"It was a very, very big fight in the final... It was such an emotional, big, big battle. - Stefanos Sakellaridis"

New Delhi, February 22

Greece's Stefanos Sakellaridis came from a breakdown in the deciding set to defeat Great Britain's Oliver Crawford in a thrilling final and clinch the men's singles title at the 2026 Delhi Open on Sunday at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association Complex.

The 21-year-old secured his maiden ATP Challenger Tour singles title with a hard-fought 7-5, 5-6, 7-6(6) victory that lasted three hours and nine minutes. The ATP Challenger 75 event, now in its sixth edition, was held at the DLTA Complex from February 16 to 22 and featured 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams competing for top honours, as per a press release from DLTA.

The final began with fluctuating momentum, as the opening set witnessed five breaks of serve before Sakellaridis edged it 7-5. The Greek carried the momentum into the second set, breaking early to take a 2-0 lead. However, Crawford responded strongly, drawing on his experience to turn the set around and level the match by taking it 6-4.

Sakellaridis broke in the opening game of the deciding set but was unable to consolidate his advantage. Crawford then won six of the next seven games to surge ahead 5-2. Just when the match appeared to be slipping away, the Greek staged a remarkable comeback, winning three consecutive games to level the set at 5-5.

The contest was eventually decided in a tense final-set tie-break, where Sakellaridis prevailed 8-6 on his second match point to seal the title.

With the win, Sakellaridis earned 75 ATP ranking points and USD 17,000 in prize money, while Crawford collected 44 ranking points and USD 9,600. The Greek is projected to rise to a career- high ranking inside the top 230, while Crawford is expected to return to the top 200 in the ATP rankings on Monday.

"It was a very, very big fight in the final. There were lots of ups and downs," Sakellaridis said after the win, "I was managing to play a good level at many, many moments that managed to get me through. But it was a great battle also from Oliver coming down from the second set. It was such an emotional, big, big battle."

Speaking on what the title means to him, the Greek said, "It was amazing to come this week, not having so much confidence in my game and going this week, playing with confidence every match, managed to win the title. It's a very big moment and step for me to make the next step. And now with this one, hopefully I can qualify for the upcoming Grand Slams."

In the doubles event, India's Siddhanth Banthia and Bulgaria's Alexander Donski claimed the title after defeating India's Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Thailand's Pruchya Isaro on Saturday's final.

This marked the third occasion that an Indian player has lifted the doubles trophy at the Delhi Open. Saketh Myneni and Sanam Singh won the title in 2015, while Yuki Bhambri and Mahesh Bhupathi triumphed in 2016. Somdev Devvarman remains the only Indian to win the singles title in the tournament's history, having secured back-to-back crowns in 2014 and 2015.

ATP Delhi Open 2026 - Day 8 Result

Men's Singles Main Draw - FinalStefanos Sakellaridis d. [5] Oliver Crawford (GBR) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(6).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Thrilling match! But a bit disappointed that no Indian player made it to the singles final this year. We need to develop more singles talent. Kudos to Banthia for the doubles win though. The tournament organization seems top-notch.
V
Vikram M
Amazing comeback from 2-5 down in the final set! That's the spirit of a champion. It's good for Indian tennis to host these Challenger events. Gives our players exposure and points. Remember watching Somdev win here... feels like yesterday. Time flies!
P
Priya S
So happy for the Greek player! Coming to India and winning his first Challenger title here will be a special memory for him. Delhi Open is becoming a proper fixture on the calendar. Hope the prize money increases in future editions to attract even bigger names.
R
Rohit P
Three hours and nine minutes! That's some serious stamina. These players are real athletes. Respect. 🇮🇳 Hope the DLTA complex facilities were up to the mark for the international players. Our infrastructure needs to be world-class to host more such events.
M
Michael C
Great to see tennis thriving in different parts of the world. Crawford will be gutted after being so close. As a respectful criticism, the article could have included more about the Indian doubles winners' journey to the final. Their story is equally important for the local fans.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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