“Hope we can pull off some upsets like we did last year” – Yuki Bhambri ahead of Indian Wells Masters

Indian Doubles No.1 Yuki Bhambri arrives at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells riding the momentum of one of the best seasons of his career in 2025. Over the past year, the doubles specialist has steadily climbed the rankings, recently reaching a career-high of World No. 18 in doubles and establishing himself as a consistent presence on the biggest stages of the ATP Tour.

Bhambri’s rise has been built on strong results across major tournaments, including a memorable semifinal run at the US Open and a title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, performances that helped push him firmly into the top tier of the doubles circuit. Now back in Indian Wells — a venue where he has enjoyed success before, including a quarterfinal appearance in doubles last year alongside Andre Goransson — Bhambri is looking to build on that momentum as the hard-court swing heads toward its final stretch.

We caught up with Bhambri ahead of his opening round match to talk about his rapid ascent in the rankings, adapting to the unique conditions in the California desert, his partnership with Michael Venus during last year’s breakthrough run, and his thoughts on the next generation of Indian tennis players coming through the ranks.

Q: Welcome to Indian Wells. You were able to make it here with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East after the Dubai open. Did you face any hurdles with transit? 

Yuki: No, I was, I guess in one of those scenarios where it benefits losing early. I was out of there pretty much right after my match so I didn’t get affected. So no issues, but hopefully things get better there. I know some of the players were stuck. I also had a few friends who wanted to come watch as well.

Q: Great to hear you didn’t have any problems. You’ve typically done well here at Indian Wells, you reached the quarters here with Andre last year, and also the third round in singles in 2018.

How are you feeling coming into Indian Wells fresh off your career high of number 18 in doubles, how does it all feel?

Yuki: Yeah I enjoy playing here. I enjoy playing in the US in general and the conditions. They suit me with the bouncy courts. It’s the last stretch of hard court events before we see the clay and the grass. I’m looking forward to these two events (Indian Wells and Miami). I’ve been playing okay. We would have liked to do better in the last few months but I think we’re playing fine and we hope we can pull off some upsets as well, like we did last year. 

Q: Could you walk us through that ascent last year ? You started off 2025, right inside the top 50, and then you broke the top 20 this year. What did it take you to get through to that?

Yuki: I had a few good results. It was also a year where I had consistent slam results. 

In doubles, since the slams and the Masters’ tournaments are mandatory, these events can really help towards the ranking. Consistent results in Indian Wells, Miami helped. Winning the Dubai Open, opened the door for me to play these events and play a full season. The US open semis run was very important to make that jump into the top 20.

Q: Do you think there was a turning point which led to these breakthrough performances, or was it that you always knew it was coming?

Yuki: I don’t think there was a turning point as such. I do feel that I have gradually improved every year. I personally do feel that I’m a better doubles player now.

It was a portion of a good partner as well, especially at the US open, with an experienced player (Michael Venus) who’s played at this level for around eight or ten years now. So, I feel it was more of a gradual improvement.

I was knocking on the door for a little bit, even back when I started playing. I think I broke into the top 100, then top 60, then 50, so there has been a gradual improvement in terms of ranking. I don’t think it was a very sudden jump. There’s still a lot of work to do to be able to maintain this and be able to be a regular on the doubles circuit.

Q: Talking about the US Open semi-final run, your very good friend Michael Venus underwent, elbow surgery, which has put him out for a long time. Are you still in touch with him? And is there any news on his return?

Yuki: Yes, we have been in touch. I visited him a couple of times in Auckland as well. He is back practicing and he’ll probably be back quite soon.

Q: That’s awesome to hear. Now coming to the BNP Paribas Open, we saw you practicing yesterday with Andre. The conditions were very windy. The conditions here can change quickly. Today, it was kind of cloudy and cooler. Yesterday was pretty hot. So, sometimes it’s not ideal for tennis. How do you deal with these changes and also especially with doubles tactics ? How do you adapt?

Yuki: I think every match is different. We’ve sort of also played almost every scenario. It’s a bit similar to how Australia is. It could be very hot one day, cold the next day and windy another day. You’re just trying to do your best at the end of the day.

It’s the same for everyone. And that’s what tennis matches are really : trying to adapt to the conditions, adapt to your opponent’s strategies, and see who can come out on top. That’s the challenge we face. Indian Wells is one of those places where it’s not just tennis, but also the conditions that you sort of used to and plan accordingly.

I don’t think the tennis changes as much because of the weather. Whatever the conditions are, I think as a player you have to learn how to adapt because that’s the only way to survive and that’s the only way to win. 

Q: You have your match coming up on Sunday. Do you like playing during the day, or do you prefer night matches here?

Yuki: I would generally prefer playing during the day. I don’t think the schedule is really out yet. I think that’s sort of a very tentative thing. I won’t really find out till tomorrow. I like starting in the morning. In the mornings, we’re not waiting around for the matches to finish with. In tennis, a match can be one hour, it can be three hours, you don’t know. So it’s just easier to plan if you know yours or the first or second match on.

Q: You’re the only Indian representing the country in this edition of the tournament here. We had a similar situation with Rohan Bopanna a couple of years back and now you’ve come in and are filling in his shoes. What do you think of the current crop of players, and who can hopefully give you company in the coming years, be it in singles or doubles?

Yuki: I don’t think it’s going to be a long time (to wait), especially in doubles. India has always done well and done a good job in producing players. We’ve got a very good program running as well, so I would probably expect Rithvik Bolipalli, who’s still quite young to sort of break onto the scene and a couple of other guys as well. Sriram Balaji had a good start to his 2026 campaign.

I’m sure most of the ATP events, we’ll be seeing him as well. I think the other group of players as well are working quite hard and are improving, and they’re not very far away from playing at this level. I think it’s just really a matter of time before we start seeing three or four players playing regularly at this level. We only have that at the slams right now. I think in another three or four years, you’ll probably see everybody start progressing and a lot more people competing at these events.

Q: Do you have any thoughts about our singles prospects like DK Suresh, Sumit also kind of making a comeback right now, of course, Manas Dhamne has been reaching the quarters level of ATP Challengers regularly. Do you have any thoughts on them?

Yuki: I am excited to see Manas’ progress. He’s definitely one to watch out for – still quite young. He already has multiple futures titles. He has made a few quarter finals in the Challengers. He’s definitely someone that I’m looking forward to seeing – how his career goes. Of course, DK once he finishes his college, he hopefully has enough time on his hands to make a breakthrough and play since he definitely has the game. When you’re coming out on the pro circuit it’s very different when you have to compete in 25 to 30 tournaments in a year – so that’s a new challenge. I definitely think he has the game to make that breakthrough.

Q: How was your experience playing doubles with him in Davis Cup? 

Yuki: It was great. He’s a great person, a great talent as well. He’s definitely one who has really improved going to college and kudos to him to be able to win those three matches in

two days. I think that was quite impressive. It was a great start to his Davis Cup career as well. We’re probably going to need him to step up again against Korea. 

Q: What are your goals for this year?

Yuki: I think just to continue putting myself in these positions. Hopefully go deeper in some of these Masters events and the slams as well. This is a big year I think, for Indian Tennis in general as well. We have another very important Davis Cup tie to hopefully put us in the top 8.

It’s a big month in September. We have the Asian games as well, where I’d really like to do well. So, I think it will be a big year for me as well. 

Q: What does your schedule look like for the clay court season? Do you have any concrete plans right now?

Yuki: I think the schedule sort of stays the same : to play whatever is available. It’s quite a busy one generally as well. We don’t have many break periods.

I’m going to try and get into all the Masters events that I can play, the ATP 500s. Hopefully in Barcelona, Munich, French Open, Geneva tournaments – just following the ATP calendar essentially. 

Q: I see. The last question for here: We’re seeing that many top singles players like Djokovic, Tstsipas, Medvdev, they’re playing doubles here. What’s your take on that? Are you looking forward to facing one of these pairs? 

Yuki: I hope they do turn up. There are lots of times that one signs up and doesn’t end up showing, but Indian Wells has been famous to have a lot of singles players come and play.

Yeah, so it’s always exciting – I’m sure for the fans and for the players as well. We do try and watch in the locker room as well, to see how they’re playing, since we don’t really get to see them on the doubles court. I think it’s a win-win scenario for just doubles in general, the tournament and the fans as well.

Q: Yeah, that’s awesome. I hope you get to play one of these pairs! That’s all for today and good luck for the tournament.

Yuki: Thank you