Shanghai Masters 2024: Why was Yuki Bhambri and Albano Olivetti's first-round men's doubles match cancelled?
India's Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti's first-round match at the men's doubles of the Shanghai Masters 2024 was canceled. They were scheduled to face the Spanish-Argentine duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the Round of 32 clash on Friday, October 4.
Bhambri and Olivetti withdrew due to the Indian falling ill, leading to their match being canceled.
Yuki Bhambri's illness not only led to their withdrawal from Shanghai but also came as a setback after their recent strong performance in the Chengdu Open 2024. As the last pair to gain direct acceptance into the Shanghai Masters, Bhambri and Olivetti had been in good form leading up to this tournament.
Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna, the other Indian in the men's doubles of the Shanghai Open, along with his partner Ivan Dodig, advanced to the second round with a straight-set victory over Pablo Carreno Busta and Pedro Martinez.
Yuki Bhambri-Albano Olivetti's Chengdu Open 2024 Journey
Before their withdrawal from Shanghai, Yuki Bhambri and Olivetti made headlines with a stellar run to the final of the Chengdu Open 2024 in China. The pair showcased impressive form, particularly in the semifinals where they defeated the second-seeded duo of Ivan Dodig and Rafael Matos 6-3, 7-6 [11-9]. The victory secured their spot in the final, where they faced the top-seeded French pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul.
In the Chengdu final, Bhambri and Olivetti put up a strong fight but ultimately fell short, losing 6-4, 4-6, [10-4] in a closely contested match. Despite the loss, their journey to the final was remarkable, especially considering their quarterfinal match against Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo, where they came from behind to win 5-7, 6-3, [12-10]. The duo had a relatively smooth victory in their opening match, defeating Toshihide Matsui and Adam Walton in straight sets.
The Chengdu Open marked a significant achievement for Bhambri and Olivetti as they advanced through a tough draw to reach the final. Their performance demonstrated their potential as a formidable doubles team, and expectations were high for them at the Shanghai Masters.