TENNIS | Clinical Smith proves too good for Sekulic

A objective Keegan Smith outclassed Philip Sekulic 6-2, 7-5 successful the last to look arsenic the Karnataka Open ATP Challenger singles champion astatine the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium present connected Saturday (May 16, 2026). 

The Indian duo of Niki Poonacha and Saketh Myneni took apical honours successful doubles, defeating Petr Bar Biryukov-Grigoriy Lomakin 6-2, 6-3 successful the acme clash.

The unseeded Poonacha-Myneni notched up a archetypal tourney triumph together. The juncture was peculiarly saccharine for Poonacha, who claimed a maiden Challenger rubric successful his location city. 

“We decided to play unneurotic conscionable past week,” 38-year-old Myneni said. 

Myneni stated that the pairing worked good due to the fact that Poonacha’s assertive crippled complements his measured style. 

Poonacha and Myneni took location $2,980 and 50 ATP points. 

In the singles, Smith’s all-round crippled won the day. The 6’7” American showed fantastic tribunal sum to frustrate Sekulic (world no. 357). When top-seed Smith came to the net, his brushed interaction — evidenced by a delicious backhand half-volley successful the archetypal acceptable — drew applause from the crowd. 

Sekulic’s electrical forehand, which worked truthful good successful his semifinal triumph implicit Kriish Tyagi, could not find the people connected Saturday. Smith (world no. 289) did not marque it casual either, keeping his returns heavy and flat. 

Smith claimed $9,500 and 50 ATP ranking points, portion Sekulic collected $5,500 and 25 ATP points.

The results (final): Keegan Smith (USA) bt Philip Sekulic (Aus) 6-2, 7-5. 

Doubles: Niki Poonacha & Saketh Myneni bt Petr Bar Biryukov & Grigoriy Lomakin (Kaz) 6-2, 6-3.