‘Small stepping stone’ – Siddhant Banthia on Doubles Rankings and 2026 Goals

Indian doubles specialist Siddhant Banthia continues to make steady progress on the ATP Challenger circuit, coming off another appearance at the prestigious Bengaluru Open. In a recent interaction, Banthia spoke about playing alongside a former college teammate, his rise in the doubles rankings, a notable singles run, and his plans for the 2026 season.

Bengaluru Open: Playing with a College Teammate

Banthia shared his enthusiasm for competing in Bengaluru, which he considers one of the premier tournaments in the country.

“I’m always excited to go to Bangalore. I think it’s one of the best tournaments in the world and the biggest tennis tournament in India,” he said.

The week was made even more special as he partnered with Dhakshineswar Suresh, a fellow alum from Wake Forest University.

“To play with someone I consider my teammate was a great experience,” Banthia noted. “Although we didn’t go as far as we thought we could, that’s part of tennis.”

Despite the early exit, he described the overall tournament experience as extremely positive.

Progress in Doubles Rankings and Grand Slam Ambitions

Banthia cracked the ATP doubles top 150 last year and is currently close to his career-high ranking. He sees it as an important milestone, but not the final destination.

“It’s a small stepping stone in my career,” he explained. “The end goal this year is to be in the top 80, so I have a shot at the Grand Slams.”

He reflected on 2025 as his first full season competing regularly at the Challenger level.

“Last year was my first full year on the doubles tour. It was a big learning experience,” Banthia said. “It didn’t end the way I wanted, but that’s how tennis goes. I’m really looking forward to 2026.”

Surprise Singles Semifinal Run at M25 Level

While Banthia has largely transitioned to doubles in recent years, he surprised many with a singles semifinal run at the M25 level. However, he insists it wasn’t unexpected for him.

“It wasn’t a surprise for me,” he said. “I’m still training for singles. I may schedule my tournaments according to the doubles calendar, but I still believe I have the level in singles.”

He credited recent match play for helping him find rhythm and confidence.

“Having a couple of tournaments under my belt and match practice from Bhubaneswar to Bhopal really helped me get into momentum,” he said.

Despite showcasing his singles ability, Banthia was clear about his priorities.

“For now, my main focus is doubles. But whenever I play singles, I’m giving my best.”

The Challenge of Finding the Right Doubles Partner

One of the toughest aspects of doubles, Banthia admits, is finding a stable partnership.

“That’s the toughest challenge in doubles—to find a partner,” he said.

He played extended stretches last year with Alex Donski, followed by a short stint with Ramkumar Ramanathan toward the end of the season. In 2026, he has begun the year with a Japanese partner Seita Watanabe, with whom he plans to play several consecutive weeks.

“We’re set to play three or four weeks together and see how it goes,” Banthia explained. “I haven’t planned too far ahead yet.”

Looking further down the line, he remains open to new possibilities—especially closer to home.

“It would be awesome to partner with an Indian and see how far an Indian team can go.”

Looking Ahead

With clear goals, growing experience at the Challenger level, and renewed motivation for the 2026 season, Siddhant Banthia remains focused on breaking into the top tier of doubles tennis. As he continues to refine partnerships and push toward the top 80, his journey will be one to watch on the international circuit.