Dhakshineshwar Suresh on His Double Crown at the Winston-Salem ITF M15

Fresh off a spectacular week at the ITF M15 tournament in Winston-Salem, Dhakshineshwar Suresh sits down for a chat with Chak Koonapareddy after capturing a stunning “double crown.” He capped a dominant run in the singles draw, not dropping a single set en route to the title. In the final, he defeated Shunsuke Mitsui of Japan with an emphatic 6-0, 6-3 victory. He then paired up with fellow Wake Forest player Andrew Delgado to clinch the doubles championship, overcoming the top-seeded duo of Fnu Nidunjianzan and Patrick Maloney in a hard-fought final, 6-7(3), 6-2, [10-6]. In this interview, he discusses the feeling of winning at home, his partnership with Delgado, balancing college with professional aspirations, and his future plans.

Suresh’s Path to the Singles Title

Final: defeated Shunsuke Mitsui (JPN, ATP 849) 6-0, 6-3
Semi-final: defeated Martin Borisiouk (BLR, ATP 976) 7-6⁶, 6-3
Quarter-final: defeated Pedro Rodrigues (BRA, ATP 731) 6-3, 6-0
Second Round: defeated Nathan Ponwith (USA, ATP 988) 6-3, 6-2
First Round: defeated Keaton Hance (USA, ATP 1509) 6-1, 6-2

Chak Koonapareddy: Congratulations on your double crown this week, winning both the singles and doubles titles. How does it feel?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: It felt great. Obviously, playing at home is a big advantage, and winning both titles felt really good. In doubles, I played with Andrew Delgado. We had a really good week last week as well at the ITA All-American but fell short in the final, so we feel like we are a pretty good pair. In singles, I won this tournament last year, so I went in with the same goal of trying to defend my points. I’m happy I played well.

Chak Koonapareddy: How is your body feeling after playing so many matches back-to-back?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: It feels pretty good. If you want to become a pro, you’re going to play many weeks throughout the year, and you have to be fit. The coaches here have been pushing us hard because they want us to go pro, so everyone’s putting the work in. In the end, it reflects on the court. I’m happy and feeling pretty good.

Chak Koonapareddy: And what do you do to recover?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I just go back and take an ice bath. We have a really great facility over here, so that really helps. I take an ice bath, see the physio, and do all the normal things.

Chak Koonapareddy: What is your schedule looking like for the rest of the year?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I’m still in school, so that might be a little tough depending on which classes I can skip. But I think I will go to Lincoln on October 13th for an ATP Challenger. That week is also our fall break, so I can go play that.

Chak Koonapareddy: Some players like Nishesh Basavareddy and Samir Banerjee have decided to take a break from college to go pro. Have you considered that?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: To be honest, I feel like I am getting pretty good coaching over here. Also, getting another degree is a big thing, and I’m so close to the finish line. I just wanted to stay here, get my degree, and use all the great facilities and coaches so I could learn more in the upcoming months.

Rapid Fire Questions

Chak Koonapareddy: What are one or two of your hobbies?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I play PS5.

Chak Koonapareddy: Favorite travel destination?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I just went to Switzerland a couple of weeks ago for the Davis Cup, so I would say that was a pretty good spot.

Chak Koonapareddy: A place you haven’t been to but would love to visit?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: A lot of countries in Europe, for sure.

Chak Koonapareddy: Your favorite tournament amongst the ones you’ve played so far?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I like to play in hot places; I don’t really like the cold. I would say Lexington. The weather is pretty hot, and the courts are bouncy and fast.

Chak Koonapareddy: Favorite cuisine?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: Indian, for sure.

Chak Koonapareddy: What’s one food you would recommend for all tennis players to keep fit, nutrition-wise?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I would want to say salad, but I hate it. So, just sticking with something simple like grilled chicken and rice, I guess.

Chak Koonapareddy: What’s one exercise you really recommend for young tennis players?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: There’s not one specific exercise; it’s a mix of everything. I would just say keep working on everything. Even if it’s small things, it’s going to make a big difference on court.

Chak Koonapareddy: At what age did you realize that you were going to be really good at this?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I would say right after juniors, probably around 18 or 19.

Chak Koonapareddy: Who is your dream opponent?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: I mean, I would have loved to play Roger [Federer], but unfortunately, I’m a little too late for that.

Chak Koonapareddy: Favorite movie genre?

Dhakshineshwar Suresh: It’s a mix of movies, but I like action-adventure stuff.

PHOTOS BY CHAK KOONAPAREDDY