DUBAI, Mar 2: India’s Yuki Bhambri and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin scripted a stunning come-from-behind victory to claim the doubles title at the Dubai Tennis Championships 2025 on Saturday, capping off a remarkable giant-killing run.
In their maiden ATP 500 doubles final, Bhambri and Popyrin rallied from a set down to edge past the second-seeded Finnish-British pair of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten 3-6, 7-6 (12), 10-8. Heliovaara and Patten, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champions, had looked in control after a dominant first set, securing an early break in the fourth game.
Undeterred, Bhambri and Popyrin pushed their higher-ranked opponents to the limit in the second set, even forcing them to save a set point in the ninth game. A tense tiebreak followed, with the Indo-Australian duo prevailing 14-12 after an intense exchange.
With momentum on their side, Bhambri and Popyrin stormed to an 8-5 lead in the super-tiebreaker. Though Heliovaara and Patten saved four match points, they ultimately succumbed after a gripping one-hour and 51-minute battle.
The stunning final victory was the highlight of an extraordinary tournament for Bhambri and Popyrin, who notched up multiple upsets en route to the title. In the Round of 16, they pulled off a remarkable comeback against top-ranked duo Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Croatia’s Mate Pavic, winning 4-6, 7-6(1), 10-3. Arevalo and Pavic currently share the ATP doubles world No. 1 ranking.
In the quarterfinals, Bhambri and Popyrin showcased their resilience once again, overcoming the all-British team of Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 5-7, 7-6(5), 10-5. Their giant-killing spree continued in the semifinals as they eliminated Great Britain’s Jamie Murray and Australia’s John Peers 6-2, 4-6, 10-7. Both Murray and Peers are former Grand Slam champions, with Peers also holding the men’s doubles Olympic title alongside compatriot Matthew Ebden.
For Bhambri, this marked his fourth ATP Tour doubles title but his first at the ATP 500 level, having previously won three ATP 250 titles. Meanwhile, Popyrin celebrated his first-ever ATP Tour doubles title, adding to his three ATP singles titles, including the prestigious Canada Open Masters 1000.
With their fearless performances and ability to rise under pressure, Bhambri and Popyrin’s triumph in Dubai stands as one of the most remarkable doubles campaigns in recent memory.
(UNI)
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