Pune: Having had a taste of top level tennis, Manas Dhamne feels he is not far behind and it is a matter of time before he makes his breakthrough.The 18-year-old, who made his maiden final appearance in an ATP Challenger last week in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, had received wildcards into the qualifying of ATP Masters tournaments in Miami this year and Madrid in 2025 and 2026.The Satara-born teenager said the difference between the top players and the rest was about staying “consistent” and the ability to think on one’s feet when in a spot of bother.“It was a really good opportunity to see how I can compete. I don’t think the level is too far,” Dhamne said of Miami and Madrid outings.“It’s just how to keep the level consistent, week in and week out every match, and how to also find a way to win matches. When it’s getting tough, I feel this is the thing that they do so much better — finding solutions or finding ways to win matches.“I think I’m getting there, you know, I’m on the right track. I just need to keep improving and need my own time.”Coached by Riccardo Piatti, whose previous trainees include current World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam winner Jannik Sinner, Dhamne’s career has followed a graph unlike that of any other Indian’s.Although he was eligible to compete in junior grand slams until last year, he only played five matches the past two years put together in the junior circuit — three in 2025 and two in 2024, all of them were on clay!In 2024, he played overall 58 matches in Futures and Challengers, 37 on clay and 21 on hard. Last year, those numbers went up to 85, 21 and 64, respectively. On the way, he has collected three Futures titles so far.“Tennis wise, I feel it’s the same, but I’m doing the same things better, the execution is better,” Dhamne said of the standard of competition as he seeks to climb up the professional rungs.“Sure, I’m more aggressive, trying to be more courageous, trying to take more shots. But I still feel the tennis is the same. I don’t have to change things. I have to do it better and better, and also know when to use it and how to use it in the match.”
