New Delhi, February 15 – India’s N. Sriram Balaji and Austria’s Neil Oberleitner continued their impressive run on the ATP Challenger circuit by winning the men’s doubles title at the Terega Open Pau Pyrenees in Pau, France, on Saturday.
Competing as the top seeds in the ATP Challenger 125 event, the Indo-Austrian duo defeated second seeds Jakub Paul and Matej Vocel 6-1, 3-6, 13-11 in a dramatic final that lasted 77 minutes. The match was decided in a nerve-wracking super tie-break after both teams had won a set each.
Balaji and Oberleitner started strongly, taking control early in the match. They broke their opponents multiple times in the first set, winning it comfortably at 6-1, showcasing sharp returns and effective net play. However, the momentum shifted in the second set as Paul and Vocel regrouped. With both sides tied at 3-3, the Swiss-Czech pair capitalized on key opportunities to force a deciding super tie-break.
The final phase of the match proved to be tense and closely contested. Balaji and Oberleitner surged ahead 4-1 in the tie-break, but Paul and Vocel fought back and even had a match point at 10-9. Displaying composure under pressure, the top seeds saved the match point and eventually converted their third opportunity to win the title.
This victory marks their third ATP Challenger title as a partnership in 2026. The pair had started their season with victories at the Nonthaburi Challenger II in Bangkok and the Bahrain Open in Manama, further highlighting their strong chemistry and consistency on the Challenger Tour.
For Balaji, the title in Pau represents the 16th doubles trophy of his ATP Challenger career, further solidifying his position as one of India’s leading doubles specialists. The Indian player had previously represented the country at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he partnered with Rohan Bopanna, although the pair were eliminated in the opening round.
In Pau, Balaji and Oberleitner were dominant throughout the week. They advanced to the final after defeating American Martin Damm and Czech player Michael Vrbensky 7-5, 7-6(1) in the semifinals, having also overcome unseeded opponents in the opening rounds.
With three Challenger titles already secured this season, the Indo-Austrian combination appears well-positioned to carry their momentum into upcoming tournaments on the international circuit.