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Upcoming starManas Dhamne wrote Indian tennis history last week. A teenagerconquered the M15 Monastir Futures as a qualifier, celebrating his first professional title. At 17 years and one month, Manas became the second-youngest Indian Futures champion.
Yuki Bhambri clinched the trophy at the 2009 New Delhi Futures, and Dhamne joined him on the list over 15 years later. The talented youngster trains at Piatti Tennis Center. Manas has already practiced with Jannik Sinner, Stan Wawrinka andMatteo Berrettini.
He also had a chance to visit Rafa Nadal Academy, the ATP Finals andWimbledon alongside meeting the legendary Rod Laver.
Dhamne played his first Futures tournaments in Monastir in 2022. Over two years later, he won the title on the familiar courts. The 17-year-old secured eight wins within eight days, and his journey started in the first qualifying round.
The Indian faced Maxwell Castle and scored a dominant 6-2, 6-0 triumph. Manas repeated that scoreline against David Petrovic and mirrored that versus Lorenzo Carboni to reach the main draw. Carboni wouldreach the main draw as a lucky loser, and they would meet again in the final!
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The Indian bested Nikolai Barsukov 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, dominating sets one and three and reaching the last 16. He played againstAlejo Sanchez Quilezand earned a solid 6-3, 6-3 triumph. The 17-year-old trailed 2-0 in the opener before taking six of the followingseven points for 6-3.
They traded breaks in the middle of the second set. Dhamne clinched three straight games from 3-3 to seal the deal and advance into the quarter-final. The young gun had to dig deep againstMaximilian Neuchrist and show his mental toughness.
Manas prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 10-8 after two hours and 39 minutes for his first professional semi-final. The rain halted the action on Friday, and the organizers reduced the deciders to a match tie break. The Indian trailed 4-1 and 5-3 in the first set.
He erased the deficit and reached a tie break before dropping four points at 5-3. The 17-year-old served well in the second set and broke his rival in games one and nine to force a decider. Dhamne trailed 5-2 and 8-7 before clinching three straight points to prevail.
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A teenager facedAlberto Barroso Campos in the semi-final a couple of hours later and delivered a 6-4, 6-3 victory in an hour and 37 minutes for his first professional final. The Indian grabbed a break in the seventh game of the opener.
He served well in games eight and ten to wrap up the opener 6-4. Manas broke Alberto at love in games five and nine of the second set to move into the title clash in style. Dhamne andLorenzo Carboni met for the second time at the same tournament.
The Italian fought stronger than in the qualifying round but the Indian prevailed 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 in an hour and 47 minutes for his first Futures title at 17! Manas dropped serve two times in the opener and responded with five return games on his tally in sets two and three.
Carboni was off to a great start. He secured breaks in games two and eight and wrapped up the opener in style. The 17-year-oldstruckback in set number two, losing only five points and delivering a bagel in under 30 minutes! The Indian gained a boost and used it nicely in the decider.
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Manas provided four comfortable holds and broke his opponent in games one and seven to emerge at the top and lift a trophy.
