Niki Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro Secure Australian Open Wildcard

The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association awarded Rs 1 lakh to Niki Poonacha for reaching the men's doubles main draw of the 2026 Australian Open after winning the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff in Chengdu, China. Poonacha, alongside Pruchya Isaro, achieved victory over Japanese competitors to secure this milestone.

Niki Poonacha, in partnership with Pruchya Isaro of Thailand, has successfully secured a spot in the men's doubles main draw of the 2026 Australian Open. The duo claimed victory at the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff held in Chengdu, China, defeating Japan's Seita Kusuhara and Katsuki Nakagawa in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

Celebrated as a significant milestone in his career, this marks Poonacha's first-ever entry into a Grand Slam main draw. In recognition of his achievement, the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) has announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for Poonacha.

The KSLTA secretary, Maheshwar Rao, expressed immense pride in Poonacha's performance, drawing a parallel to tennis icon Rohan Bopanna's legacy. Rao extended his best wishes to the duo for the upcoming 2026 Australian Open, confident that they will make their nation proud.

(With inputs from agencies.)