At the age of 33, Yuki Bhambri writes a second act to predict. As soon as she was welcomed as another hope for the Great Singles in India after winning the Australian Open, his career was repeatedly stopped by a knee injury. Now, with a new focus on double, Bhambri has found continuity and success at some of the largest stages of sport.
That Shifting fruit to transmission to 2025 US OpenWhere Bhambri and New Zealand Michael Venus created a sparkling run to the semifinals. For Bhambri, it was the deepest thing he had ever left for the Grand Slam, and the statement that his transition from singles was not just a necessity, but of the belief that he could still leave a mark in the game.
His inspired run in New York for the first time in his career for the first time led to the TOP 25 in the world
“It was unreal and definitely bittersweet,” said Bhambri, who is back at his training base – The Roundglass Academy in Chandigarh – in an exclusive interview.
“Achieving the semi -finals of the Grand Slam It is a great success, but during the tournament you focus on victory. We were quite close to making the finals, so it was a slightly sad end. But looking back, it’s an unforgettable milestone – something that many Indians have achieved. ”
This mixture of pleasure and hunger is typical of Bhambri. Although he saves a milestone, the 33-year-old is already framing him as a launchpad for others.
Perhaps the best way to understand his tennis philosophy today is through a sports metaphor borrowed from another passion: cricket.
“Singles is like preparing for a test match – a long assembly, perseverance, patience,” he said.
“Doubling is like a T20 cricket – rapidly developing, aggressive, with shorter points. Doubleing focuses on the first shot, administration, return and pure games, while singles require more soil coverage and outbringing and defense.”
As he describes, it is a shift, from the T20 tests that transformed his career.
Finding the right partner
Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus have reached the Open Open 2025 semifinals (Reuters)
Bhambri’s breakthrough was his partnership with Michael Venus, New Zealand specialist in Bhambri. They both get to know each other for 15 years, and the friendship eventually evolved into a professional bond once their charts were equal.
But 2025 was hardly straightforward.
Bhambri played with more partners during the season, often dictated by availability. When his longtime partner Albano Olivetti was injured, he was forced to look elsewhere. This search landed briefly with a specialist in the singles Alexei Popayrin, with whom he struck gold in Dubai and won the ATP 500 earlier in the year.
“This partnership was based purely on availability,” Bhambri admitted, “but it worked well.” On the dirt and grass, he also joined Robert Galloway, another temporary arrangement when he seemed to maintain dynamics alive.
Only after Wimbledon, the partnership with Venus really started – at first glance, the first case when they schedule will soon turn into something more permanent.
“Michael and I were friends for about 15 years. He switched to double soon and we always talked about playing together,” he said.
“The timing is essential because the charts determine the entry into the tournaments. It was the first time we were both high enough to play the right season, including the events of Grand Slams and Masters, so the partnership officially started.”
It is a pairing based not only on shared history, but also complementary skills.
“He’s experienced, the Grand Slam winner and was always a Top-20 player,” Bhambri said.
“His powerful style of gaming complements my more stable approach because he can finish the points to help set up. Being friends makes communication and overcoming challenges.”
The decision to hold together is clear. “Yes, Michael and I will play together in the foreseeable future,” Bhambri confirmed.
“Results often dictate partnerships, but we plan to stick together.”
Pragmatism meets passion
In doubles, the Camaradia is secondary to chemistry.
“Friendship can make the way more pleasant, but the primary factors are availability and how your games complement each other,” he said. “We are all professionals; victory comes first.”
This pragmatic approach stems from the reality of his own way.
Bhambri, the junior world No. 1, which was awarded the title of Australian Open Boys’, was seen for a long time as another Indian player of the big singles. He fought on the Challenger circuit, cracked TOP 100 and represented India in the Davis Cup ties. At the Grand Slam Bhambri in 2018, he achieved the main draw of all four large slams, but it was also the last time he got to this level in the singles.
Grind took his toll. Then a series of knee injuries stopped her career of singles. A few years ago he even thought about ending tennis before he made a full -fledged doubles transition.
Since February 2023, Bhambri has focused only on double.
“The transition wasn’t hard,” he thought. “After my knee injury, I had two options: stop playing or concentrating on doubles. I realized that my knee could handle doubles, so I switched a little earlier than expected. It was great.”
Now in the early 1930s, Bhambri believes that timing is right.
“Maybe,” he said as he asked if he moved to the doubles scene with age still on his side.
“I still have years ahead of us in doubles and it’s a good time to switch because I can devote more focus.”
Back to the roots
Yuki Bhambri at RROUNDGLASS ACADEMY in Chandigarh (PTI Photo)
Another key element of this reinventation came last year, when Bhambri met his child coach Aditya Sachdev at the Academy of Roundglass Academy in Chandigarh. It was Sachdeva who first formed him as eleven -year
“I divided my time between Delhi and Chandigarh, trained mostly at the Roundglass Academy in Chandigarh,” Bhambri said.
“Michael is located in London, but we meet a few days before every event. The partnership doesn’t change my base much.”
Consistency is the king
If the US Open has shown that Bhambri belongs to the highest level, he knows that there will be a consistency.
“Tennis rewards of consistency. The evaluation is reset every year, so you have to perform consistently. My approach is to focus on improvement and charts will follow.”
The difference between the promise and success for him often comes to the mental side.
“It’s all,” he said as he asked about thinking in big matches.
“Apparently you need to have a game to achieve this level, but experience will help you stay calmer and better understand the situation. You will learn to get in front of you, not feeling unnecessary nervous energy and just focus on the task at hand.”
This calm interferes with his routine.
“Most of the day is spent by training, exercises and rehabilitation to prepare for matches,” he said.
“I enjoy watching other sports, especially cricket and Premier League football, including Fantasy League.”
If the career of Bhambri’s singles was derailed by injuries, its double trajectory takes place in the Slipstream the rich tradition of India in format. From Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, Indian players found fame on a double scene.
“Thanks to role models, the journey is easier. Success brings success,” Bhambri said.
“Players like Rohan Bopanna show that it is possible, and young players see a clear path to achieve in doubles. I invite them to play singles initially to build stamina and experience, and then switch to duplicate longevity.”
Eyes on the future
Bhambri’s immediate priority is to build on Flushing Meadows dynamics.
“I try to maximize the remaining 3-4 tournaments this season and continue the dynamics of the US Open semifinals,” he said.
“For a long time, I want to promote the Top-8 ending with my partner next year, which would reflect a successful season.”
When Bhambri settles in this “T20 phase” of his career, he carries a hard -earned lesson of his single journey. With Venus at his side and the leadership of his child coach in Chandigarh, he has a chance to write a new chapter for himself and in the process and for Indian tennis.
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Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
September 21, 2025
