Vallab removes Ayan from the equation.

In an exciting opening round of the UNIFI-International Tennis Federation Junior Tennis Cup 2026, held at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam on Monday, Vallab Kumar from the United States showcased his skills by defeating India's Ayan Shetty with a score of 6-3, 6-2. This match marked a strong start for Kumar in the tournament, setting the tone for his performance in the coming rounds.

The first round featured several notable matches, with players from various countries competing fiercely. Australian Lakshy Madankumar triumphed over Malay Keyurbhai Minjrola, winning 6-4, 6-1. In another match, Neel Kelkar managed to secure a hard-fought victory against Hemdev Mahesh, finishing with a score of 6-1, 1-6, 7-5. Karan Thapa from Nepal also advanced, defeating Lakshya Vardhan Chukka 6-3, 6-2.

Manan Rai continued the trend of competitive matches by overcoming Ashwin Kabilan from the USA with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Meanwhile, Saksham Bhansali delivered a commanding performance against Harsh Malik, winning decisively with a score of 6-0, 7-6(5). Yash Kumar also progressed to the next round after defeating China's Can Lawani 6-4, 7-5.

The girls' matches were equally thrilling, with Saatvi Parag Mardaniya defeating Shravanti Venkatakrishnan from Great Britain, who retired after the first set, with a score of 7-5, 3-0. Sarithra Entoori secured her place in the next round by beating Aashi Kashyap 6-4, 6-4. Purvi Patwa also advanced, winning against Zoha Qureshi with a score of 6-1, 6-3.

Diya Harikrishnan faced a challenging match against Yashitha Ereti, ultimately winning 0-6, 6-3, 1-0 after her opponent retired. Aditi Paturi triumphed over Sree Sasthayini Velmanikandan with a score of 6-2, 7-6(3), while Pooja Nagaraj dominated Aditi Bhrahadeeswaran, winning 6-0, 6-1. The tournament continues to promise thrilling matches as players vie for the championship title.