Wimbledon 2026: Yuki Bhambri, N Sriram Balaji crash out in first round as Indian challenge ends early
Three Indians were in the main draw of the men's doubles category at Wimbledon 2026. However, none of them was able to make it past the first round.
2025 US Open semifinalist Yuki Bhambri has been shown the exit door in the very first round of his men's doubles match at Wimbledon 2026. Another Indian men's doubles contender N Sriram Balaji too has fallen in the opening round and so has Anirudh Chandrashekhar.
With the first-round defeats of these three, no Indian remains in fray in Wimbledon 2026. Bhambri and Balaji both had good performances in previous Grand Slams and many were expecting them to make deep runs at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. However, their losses come as disappointment for Indian tennis fans.
Indian challenge ends at Wimbledon
Bhambri, the highest-ranked men's doubles player from India lost in straight sets alongside his partner Australian Michael Venus. Bhambri and Venus went down to Netherlands’ Jean Julien Rojer and American Theodore Winegar in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 on Court 10.
N Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner fought hard but fell short against Belgium’s Sander Gille and Netherlands' Sem Verbeek. Balaji and Demoliner lost 6-3, 6-7 (2), 4-6 in a tight contest on Court 8.
More from Tennis NewsBoth Bhambri and Balaji were doing better in recent Grand Slams. Bhambri had made it to the semifinals of the US Open 2025 in men's doubles. This year also he had had a decent start. He made it to the third round in the Australian Open and then to the second round at the French Open.
The first-round exit at Wimbledon, thus comes as a massive disappointment.
Balaji too had a good French Open where he made it to the quarterfinals but at Wimbledon he failed to maintain his form.
Meanwhile, Anirudh Chandrashekhar also suffered the same fate as the other two Indians in his men's doubles tie. Playing alongside Japan’s Takeru Yuzuki he lost to Canada’s Ignacio Buse and Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (10) on Court 11.
Indians had no singles presence at the Wimbledon 2026 and also no Indian woman was taking part in the prestigious event this year.
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