Indian tennis player Dhakshineswar Suresh has delivered the biggest ATP breakthrough of his career, defeating experienced American Marcos Giron in straight sets at the 2026 Winston-Salem Open to register his first ATP Tour main-draw singles victory.
Suresh, who entered the tournament’s main draw as a lucky loser, produced an impressive serving display to defeat Giron 6-3, 7-5 in the opening round. The Indian fired 17 aces and completed the victory in one hour and 25 minutes, according to the ATP’s official results.
Lucky Loser Seizes His Opportunity
The victory was particularly remarkable because Suresh had initially missed out in qualifying before receiving another opportunity as a lucky loser. He capitalised by overcoming a vastly more experienced opponent and advancing to the second round.
The ATP Tour confirmed that the victory over Giron was Suresh’s first ATP Tour win, while Tennis TV described it as his first Tour-level victory outside the Davis Cup.
Suresh’s powerful serve proved to be his biggest weapon. His 17 aces repeatedly kept Giron under pressure and helped the Indian close out both sets without requiring a deciding third set.
Major Moment for Indian Tennis
The result also carried wider significance: Suresh became the first Indian to win an ATP-level singles main-draw match in 2026, according to The New Indian Express. Earlier this year, he had attracted attention by winning two singles rubbers for India against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup.
His route through the Winston-Salem tournament has highlighted his resilience. Suresh had already battled through qualifying action before gaining entry to the main draw, where he took full advantage of his second chance.
Next Challenge Awaits
The breakthrough sends Suresh into the second round of the ATP 250 event, with Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo listed as his next opponent on August 25.
For Indian men’s tennis, Suresh’s victory provides a timely boost. Turning a lucky-loser opportunity into a maiden ATP Tour win—and doing so against an established Tour player—marks an important step in his transition from collegiate and Davis Cup success to the regular ATP circuit.
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