Yuki Bhambri took the first big step towards fulfilling his early promise as a prodigy as he broke into the ATP top-100 on Monday by being ranked No. 99 in the world.
He is the third Indian in the last 20 years to break into the ATP top-100, after Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman.
The 23-year-old, who has won at least one Challenger singles title for the last four years, including one this year in Shanghai, has been consistent this season, making three other finals in Delhi, Kaohsiung and Samarkhand, apart from four semifinals and three quarterfinals.
Some of the better players like Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and Chung Hyeon of Korea have alone been able to stop his fine run in recent weeks.
Yuki, who trains with coach Aditya Sachdeva at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in the Capital, had qualified for the Australian Open and had a good match against Andy Murray.
At the lower level, he won a Futures title in Uzbekistan, his tenth at that level in singles.
“I have been working really very hard for the last five years to break into the top-100, and compete at the highest level. I have finally made it,” said Yuki, who has pulled out of the ongoing Challenger in Bengaluru, citing fatigue.
The 28-year-old Saketh Myneni has reached 166, and Somdev is on 181.
