In a remarkable upset, the 6 foot 6 inch Dhakshineswar Suresh, ranked 1089th in the world, stunned the 337th-ranked Russian, Alexey Zakharov, in the first round of qualifying at the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open. Competing in his ATP debut, Suresh secured a straight-sets victory, 7-6(5), 6-2.

The match was a test of nerves, with Suresh saving two crucial break points at 5-5, 15-40, in the first set, the second one with an ace. He also fought back from a mini-break down at 5-4 in the tiebreak before clinching the set. Suresh’s powerful serve was a key weapon, as he fired 14 aces throughout the match. Suresh also won a whopping 35/38 first serve points throughout the match.

Suresh, who plays for Wake Forest University, was buoyed by the home crowd after receiving a wildcard entry into the tournament. His impressive win marks a significant moment in his budding career, showcasing his potential on the professional circuit. Read more about his journey here – Link.

Stats from the match (Suresh on the left)