Bhambri seals U.S. Open semifinal spot in career-best Grand Slam run

India’s Yuki Bhambri progressed to his maiden Grand Slam semifinal by advancing to the final 4 of the U.S. Open males’s doubles occasion with New Zealand companion Michael Venus.

The Indo-Kiwi duo upset eleventh seeds Nikola Mektic and Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3 in a quarterfinal conflict on Courtroom 17 to proceed their spectacular run on Wednesday (September 3, 2025).

Earlier, Bhambri and Venus had knocked out fourth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz within the pre-quarterfinals.

For Bhambri, 33, it marked a profession breakthrough after years of battling accidents and transitioning from singles to doubles.

A former junior world No. 1 and the 2009 Australian Open boys’ champion, he has now achieved his finest end result at a senior Grand Slam.

“It has been an extremely nerve-wracking expertise, and at this second, there’s a whirlwind of feelings,” Bhambri stated whereas talking on Jio Hotstar.

“We’re merely grateful to have prevailed in such a difficult match. Our opponents made it extraordinarily tough for us with their huge expertise as a number of Grand Slam champions, and competing in opposition to them really examined our resolve at each stage.” Speaking about his determination to rejoin forces with Venus, Bhambri stated the “timing felt proper” to start out competing collectively once more.

“I’m genuinely happy to be by his aspect on the court docket. Having confronted him a number of instances as an opponent, I all the time most well-liked partnering with him somewhat than enjoying in opposition to him.

“It has been a beautiful journey thus far, ranging from the U.S. summer season event in Washington, and we’re pleased with the progress we’ve made collectively.”

The end result additionally extends India’s legacy in males’s doubles, wherein the likes of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna have excelled up to now.

The winners secured the primary break of the match when Bhambri discovered a service return winner on Mektik’s serve for a 3-1 lead. Venus’ serve got here beneath strain within the very subsequent recreation however the New Zealander managed to avoid wasting, consolidating the break.

Bhambri locked the primary set with a straightforward volley winner on Ram’s return.

The Indian, nonetheless, misplaced his serve early within the second set, permitting Mektic and Ram to make a comeback within the match.

They bought the break again to make it 4-4, however finally misplaced the set within the tie-break when Bhambri served a double fault, going through set level.

Bhambri saved a break level in recreation three of the decider to avert the hazard.

Mektic was comfortably up 40-15 in recreation eight however the Indo-Kiwi pair bought the break for a decisive 5-3 lead when Mektic couldn’t return the angled backhand from the Indian after serving a double fault at deuce.

Serving for the match, Venus was down 0-40 however he and Bhambri saved all three and later two extra and closed the sport when Ram’s backhand service return fell on the web.

Bhambri and Venus will face sixth seed British pair of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski for a spot within the last.