Dhamne Falters at PMRDA Powered MahaOpen ATP Challenger 75

Pune, 27 February 2026:  Local Boy and Wildcard Manas Dhamne squandred two match points  going down to Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic in the mens singles quarterfinals at the  PMRDA Powered Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 Men’s Tennis Championship organized by Maharashtra State Lawn tennis Association (MSLTA) in association with the Department of Sports and Youth Services Govt of Maharashtra, PCMC, PMC and PMDTA and  sponsored by Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) and played at the Shiv Chhatrapati Kreeda Sankul, Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Stadium

 Duje Ajdukovic the 25 year old currently ranked 346  survived a stern challenge from Indian wildcard Manas Dhamne to register a hard-earned 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 victory in a gripping contest lasting 2 hours and 16 minutes.
The opening set saw both players engaged in a fierce baseline exchange. Ajdukovic struck first with a break in the third game, but Dhamne responded immediately to level at 2-2. The young Indian raised the tempo in the sixth game, hammering aggressive returns to snatch another break before confidently serving out the set 6-3.

Dhamne continued his momentum in the second set, breaking in the third game for a 2-1 lead. However, Ajdukovic mounted a determined comeback, breaking back in the eighth game to draw level. With neither player conceding ground, the set was pushed into a tense tie-break. The Croatian held his nerve in the extended breaker, edging it 7-6(8) to restore parity.

In the decider, Ajdukovic came out firing, breaking in the very first game and consolidating with strong serving. Dhamne fought back bravely with a break in the fourth game to keep his hopes alive. But Ajdukovic’s aggressive shot-making and clutch serving proved decisive as he secured another break in the seventh game and closed out the set 6-4 to book his semifinal berth.

Eighth seed Edas Butvilas  of Lithuania delivered a composed 6-3, 6-3 win over qualifier Masamichi Imamura Japan in 1 hour and 21 minutes , while  Britain’s Felix Gill scripted a remarkable turnaround to defeat qualifier Maks Kasnikowski Poland 0-6, 7-6(2), 6-1 in a exciting 2-hour 5-minute battle.
Sixth seed Federico Cina (ITA) looked in control during his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Britain’s Alastair Gray to also make the semifnals .

In doubles semi final action, the Indo-Thai combination of Pruchya Isaro and second seed Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha outplayed the third-seeded Japanese pair of Yuta Shimizu and Seita Watanabe 7-5, 7-6(4) to enter the final. 
Top seeds Siddhant Banthia and Alexander Donski were upset by  fourth seeds Jisung Nam and Patrik Niklas-Salminen in the other semifinal.

Results: Main Draw: Quarterfinal Round: Singles:
Edas Butvilas[8](Ltu)bt [Q] Masamichi Imamura (Jpn) 6-3, 6-3; (1hour 21 minutes)  
Felix Gill (Gbr) bt [Q] Maks Kasnikowski (Pol)0-6, 7-6(2), 6-1; (2hour 5minutes)
Federico Cina [6](Ita) bt  Alastair Gray (Gbr) 6-4, 6-2; 
Duje Ajdukovic (Cro) bt [Wc] Manas Dhamne (Ind)3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4; (2hour 16 minutes)  

Doubles: Semifinal Round: 
Pruchya Isaro (Tha) Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha [2](Ind) bt Yuta Shimizu (Jpn) Seita Watanabe[3](Jpn)7-5, 7-6(4); 

Jisung Nam (Kor) Patrik Niklas-Salminen [4](Fin) bt Siddhant Banthia (Ind) Alexander Donski[1](Bul) 6-2, 6-4.