Karan Singh stuns Max Houkes to lift ITF M15 Hyderabad Title
Karan Singh put together a memorable week of tennis to clinch the ITF M15 Hyderabad singles title, underlining his growing maturity and resilience on the professional circuit. The 22-year-old Indian capped the campaign with a composed 6-4, 6-4 victory over top seed Max Houkes of the Netherlands in the final at the Lake View Academy.
Ranked 471 in the world, Karan produced one of the biggest wins of his career by opponent ranking, defeating the world No. 250 Houkes to claim his third professional singles title – and his first of the 2026 season. The triumph was also special as it marked his first pro singles title on Indian soil.
Karan’s title run was built on consistency and mental strength. In the quarterfinals, the third seed delivered one of his best performances to outwit Switzerland’s Jeffrey Von Der Schulenburg 6-4, 6-4, serving big and timing his aggressive shots to perfection. He followed that up with a gritty semifinal win over American qualifier Keshav Chopra, prevailing 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in a match that tested his patience and composure.
Having dropped the opening set in the semifinals, Karan showed maturity to handle the ebb and flow against an athletic opponent who was enjoying a dream run in the tournament. He broke Chopra late in the deciding set and served out the match at love, signaling his readiness for the final challenge.
In the championship match, Karan stayed solid from the baseline and controlled the big moments against Houkes, who had arrived in Hyderabad fresh from a title win in Chennai. The Indian’s ability to combine a strong serve, heavy forehand and calm decision-making proved decisive as he sealed the title in straight sets.
The Hyderabad crown marks Karan’s third career singles title on the professional circuit, following earlier successes in Tehran and Monastir, and confirms his steady progress after recent early exits in Bengaluru and Chennai. More importantly, it showcased his growing belief and competitiveness as he continues his climb up the ATP rankings.
