When the dust settles, Yuki Bhambri would perhaps have bittersweet memories of his semifinal run at the 2025 US Open in men’s doubles alongside Michael Venus. The Indo-Kiwi pair, only recently united earlier this summer Stateside, but punched above their weight to upset a couple of higher-seeded pairs to reach the last four. But with a place in the title within their grasp, Bhambri-Venus faltered on Thursday, going down 7-6 (2) 6-7(5) 4-6 in a thrilling contest.
That the defeat was against a pedigreed doubles of Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury – a serial title winner at Flushing Meadows – might not be much consolation. What would haunt them is the fact that they had break point opportunities to go up 4-1 up in the second set after taking the opener, but a few lapses in concentration eventually proved very costly. Bhambri had some bright moments through the match especially with his return of serves and singles-heavy groundstrokes from the baseline but struggled at the net and couldn’t back up Venus’ close-range volleying that comes naturally for the more experienced doubles players.
Bhambri-Venus paid the price for a few costly errors from 0-40 when up 3-1 in the 2nd set, then Bhambri was broken on his serve. The third set saw them get broken early but they kept fighting, staving off break points and match points even, before Skupski and Salisbury’s level went up a few notches in the endgame. A stunning half volley from Salisbury at 0-30 on his serve late in the third set was the highlight of a match.
Nevertheless, a marathon three-hour contest was eveny fought and Bhambri gave a good account of himself for the most part despite being the least experienced doubles player among all four on court.
In the process, the 33-year-old Delhi player became only the fourth Indian man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam doubles semifinals, after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna. The run included victories over fourth seeds Germans Tim Putz/Kevin Krawietz apart from knocking out 11th seeds Rajeev Ram and Nikola Mektic, underlining Bhambri’s growing stature on the doubles circuit after injuries curtailed his singles ambitions.
“This has been a special week for me. To be playing at this level and in the semifinals of a Slam is a big moment,” Bhambri said after the loss, reported PTI. The semifinal finish represents a breakthrough and a potential turning point in the latter half of his career.
In the previous round, Bhambri and Venus came through a thrilling match against the American veteran and six-time Major doubles title winner Rajeev Ram, who has won the US Open men’s doubles event thrice in the past. Nikola Mektic is also a Major winner, having won the 2021 Wimbledon title with Mate Pavic, while registering one mixed doubles Major win at Australian Open 2020. The result was the second straight win against a higher-seeded pair for Bhambri and Venus, who earlier overcame Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz 6-4 6-4 in the round of 16.
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It’s been a good run so far for Bhambri-Venus as they started competing together this year, starting from Washington, where they reached the quarterfinal. They then bowed out in the opening round of the Canada Masters 1000 event, as well at the Cincinatti Masters 1000, losing in a match tiebreak on both occasions. But in the immediate lead-up to the US Open, Bhambri and Venus made it to the semifinals at the ATP 250 event in Winston-Salem, with Bhambri getting one over Rohan Bopanna and his partner Arneodo in the quarterfinals. Bhambri played at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year with American Robert Galloway, reaching the round of 16 at Roland Garros as well at SW19
Men’s Doubles Semifinals:
Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury (6), Britain, def. Michael Venus, New Zealand, and Yuki Bhambri (14), India, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Marcel Granollers, Spain, and Horacio Zeballos (5), Argentina, def. Robert Cash and James Tracy, United States, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
(With PTI inputs)
