 "Dhakshineswar Suresh steps up for India in Davis Cup Qualifiers – who is he?")
Dhakshineswar Suresh steps up for India in Davis Cup Qualifiers – who is he?
Dhakshineswar Suresh starred for India in the Davis Cup Qualifiers against the Netherlands in Bengaluru, producing a calm win under pressure to level the tie. Here’s who the rising Indian tennis talent is and why he is becoming India’s trusted player.
Dhakshineswar Suresh once again showed why he is quickly becoming India’s trusted man in tennis, as he helped the hosts bounce back against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Qualifiers first round in Bengaluru on Saturday.
After India lost the opening round in a closely fought match between Sumit Nagal and Guy den Ouden, the pressure was firmly on Suresh to level the tie. The 25-year-old Indian responded in style, defeating Dutch No. 1 Jesper de Jong 6-4, 7-5 in under 90 minutes on a bright and breezy afternoon.
With that win, India leveled the scores at 1-1, keeping the tie alive heading into Sunday’s decisive matches, where Nagal will face De Jong and Suresh will lock horns against Den Ouden.
A calm performance under pressure
Suresh’s performance was built around his biggest strength – his powerful serve. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, the right-hander used his height and reach to full advantage, firing down nine aces and conceding just one break point, which he saved comfortably.
“I think my big serves and big forehand troubled De Jong the most,” Suresh said after the match. “In conditions like Bengaluru, the high altitude makes the ball travel faster. It’s tough to control the ball when I’m hitting hard, and I felt I could keep him under pressure.”
This is not the first time Suresh has delivered for India on the big stage. He made his Davis Cup debut in 2025 during the World Group-1 tie against Switzerland. On that occasion, he beat Jerome Kym, who was ranked 155 at the time, to give India an early lead in the tie.
Who is Dhakshineswar Suresh?
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Suresh’s journey has not been an overnight success. He spent several years playing collegiate tennis in the United States, first representing Georgia Gwinnett College before moving to Wake Forest University. The experience helped him develop his physical game and all-court skills.
A major milestone in Suresh’s career came in 2024, when he made his ATP main draw debut at the Winston-Salem Open. He received a wildcard entry into the doubles main draw, partnering Luca Pow, which gave him his first opportunity to compete at the highest level of the men’s tour.
He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 465 on 2 February 2026. In doubles, he has enjoyed even more success, achieving a career-best ranking of No. 352 on 18 August 2025.
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