New Delhi, Feb 12 (.) Dane Sweeny of Australia and Seita Watanabe of Japan are set to lead a strong doubles lineup at the Delhi Open 2026, taking place at the DLTA Complex from February 16 to 22.
Sweeny and Watanabe enter as the top-ranked pair with a combined team ranking of 265. Watanabe, ranked 127 in doubles, partners Sweeny, who is placed 138 in singles, making them one of the strongest combinations in the field, as per a release.
Leading the Indian challenge will be SD Prajwal Dev and Nitin Kumar Sinha, the highest-ranked all-Indian duo in the main draw. Ranked 219 and 243 respectively in doubles, the pair will look to capitalise on familiar home conditions against seasoned international opposition.
The draw also features five players contesting both singles and doubles: Jay Clarke (Great Britain), Sweeny (Australia), Michael Geerts (Belgium), Daniel Michalski (Poland), and Rio Noguchi (Japan).
Seven teams have secured direct entry based on their doubles rankings, underlining the presence of specialist partnerships. Additionally, Sweeny, Clarke and Michalski have entered the doubles event through their singles rankings.
DLTA President Rohit Rajpal highlighted the growing stature of the Delhi Open on the Challenger circuit.
“The Delhi Open has established itself as one of the most competitive Challenger events in the region. It plays a crucial role in bridging Indian talent with top international competition, giving our players the advantage of competing at home while offering fans world-class tennis from close quarters,” Rajpal said.
Emphasising the importance of doubles, he added, “The strength of this year’s doubles field reflects the tournament’s rising quality. The mix of specialist doubles players and singles competitors raises the overall standard and exposes Indian players to diverse playing styles and tactical demands at the Challenger level.”
The Delhi Open remains a key stop on the ATP Challenger Tour calendar, offering valuable ranking points and competitive opportunities for emerging and established players.
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