The second seeds playing to maintain an unbeaten record in 2022, held their nerve to defeat top-seeded Australians Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith 6-7(10), 6-3, 10-6.

It was Bopanna and Ramanathan’s second ATP trophy of the year, having also triumphed at the Adelaide International 1 in January (d. Dodig/Melo). Their only match together prior to this season had been a Davis Cup defeat against Finland in 2021, but the pairing now holds an 8-0 match record in 2022.

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They were made to work for their victory in Pune. Saville and Smith, also playing their first ATP Tour final as a team, edged the first set tiebreak and performed strongly overall on serve. The Australians landed 79 per cent of their first serves and won 80 per cent (48/60) of points behind first delivery.

Bopanna and Ramanathan still managed to break twice in the second set to level however, forcing a Match Tie-break that began tensely. It was the Indian pairing that cut loose at 4/4, embracing the home support to reel off five points in a row before sealing victory with their fourth match point after a tight one hour, 46-minute encounter.

The title is Bopanna’s 21st tour-level trophy and his second in Pune, having also won in 2019 with Divij Sharan. It is Ramanathan’s second career title after the pairing’s Adelaide victory.