The Indian men’s doubles pair of Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth has received a wildcard entry to the 2024 Australian Open.

Australian Open 2024, Day 1, Live Updates

The all-Indian pair received the seventh and final men’s doubles wildcard, while in the women’s doubles wildcard went to the all-Chinese team of Wang Yafan and Yuan Yue.

This Indian duo started the season off at the Canberra International, where they faced off against Andrew Harris and Matthew Christopher Romios. Despite a valiant effort, Chandrasekar and Prashanth narrowly lost the match 6-4, 4-6, 8-10.

They then participated in the ASB Classic in Auckland, losing to Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in the first round, with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-5.

Their recent performances include a heart-wrenching loss in the Bengaluru Open 2023 doubles final. The selection committee for the Australian Open recognised the potential of Chandrasekar and Prashanth, granting them a wildcard entry into the men’s doubles draw. For Chandrasekar and Prashanth, this opportunity is a chance to shine on one of the grandest stages in tennis.

HIGH HOPES FROM BOPANNA-EBDEN

India’ s Rohan Bopanna and Australia’s Mathew Ebden will be looking to get their 2024 season off to a flying start at the Australian Open. The world number 2 ranked men’s doubles pair reached the final of the recently-concluded Adelaide International, losing to Rajiv Ram and Joe Salisbury in the final.

Bopanna will be applying in his 107th Grand Slam tournament, having participated in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles categories of all four Grand Slams since 2011.

Bopanna, who has never gone past the third round of the Australian Open while competing in the men’s doubles category, will be looking to better his record at the first Grand Slam of the season.

The pair reached the final of the 2023 US Open and the semi-final at the 2023 Wimbledon, and will be aiming for a positive campaign in 2024 as well.