Indian prodigy Manas Dhamne trains with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner: Here’s why he’s rated highly

Manas Dhamne, the 16-year-old Indian tennis prodigy, recently shared the court with two-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner. The Italian star and Dhamne practised together on Wednesday (October 23, 2024). Dhamne trains at the Piatti Tennis Center, located in Bordighera, Italy. During Sinner’s recent visit to the centre, the two got the opportunity to practise together.

Who is Manas Dhamne?

Manas Dhamne, a 16-year-old professional tennis player from India, was born on December 29, 2007, in Malegaon, Maharashtra. He has already made significant progress in the tennis world. Manas is currently ranked 1084 and is expected to break into the top rankings soon.

Success from a young age

In October 2022, Manas became the youngest Indian to win a junior title at the ITF Asian B1 Championships. In January 2023, he earned a wildcard for the Tata Open Maharashtra, becoming the first player born in 2007 to compete in a main draw match on the ATP Tour. He was also the youngest player to win a first-round match in the Boys’ singles at the 2023 Australian Open. Later that year, he played in Wimbledon Juniors but crashed out in the second round.

Recently, Manas was named as a replacement for Sumit Nagal in the Indian Davis Cup team for their tie against Sweden. However, he didn’t get a chance to play, as India suffered a 4-0 defeat to Sweden.

The young player has been competing in senior tournaments regularly, and as he continues his training in Italy, there are high hopes that he will achieve something big for India in the future.

Manas’ chemistry with Sinner

Manas Dhamne shares a unique bond with Jannik Sinner, dating back to 2021 when he travelled with Sinner as his hitting partner during the ATP 250 tournament in Antwerp. Sinner went on to win the title, and his former coach, Riccardo Piatti, thanked Manas, saying, “First ATP win as a hitter for Manas. So happy for Jannik.”