Indo-Thai Pair Poonacha-Isaro Bow Out of Australian Open in Tight Contest

India’s Niki Poonacha (ATP doubles: outside top 80) and his Thai partner Pruchya Isaro (ATP doubles: outside top 80) exited the men’s doubles event at the Australian Open after a narrow straight-sets loss to Spain’s Pedro Martinez (ATP singles: top 100) and Jaume Munar (ATP singles: top 100) in the opening round here on Tuesday.

The Indo-Thai wildcard pair went down 6-7(3), 5-7 in a closely fought contest lasting one hour and 51 minutes on Court 14 . There was little to separate the two sides, but Poonacha and Isaro failed to capitalise on key moments, converting just one of three break-point opportunities and dropping serve twice.

Poonacha, a multiple ATP Challenger doubles title winner and a former India Davis Cup player , has been one of the country’s more consistent doubles performers in recent years. Isaro, a former top-100 doubles player , has also enjoyed success on the ATP Challenger circuit , particularly in Asian tournaments.

Their Spanish opponents are primarily singles specialists , with Martinez a former ATP Tour singles title winner and Munar a former top-60 singles player , both ranked inside the ATP top 100 at present.

India’s challenge in the doubles draw continues with Yuki Bhambri (ATP doubles: top 40) partnering Sweden’s Andre Goransson (ATP doubles: top 30) . The 10th-seeded pair will open their campaign against Australian wildcards James Duckworth (former top-50 singles player) and Cruz Hewitt (junior Grand Slam doubles champion) , son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt .

India has no representation in the men’s singles main draw , with Sumit Nagal’s ranking slipping from around world No. 68 to outside the top 100 following a difficult 2025 season .