SYDNEY: With India’s singles contingent still searching for rhythm, the focus will once again be on Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as the top-seeded men’s doubles pair begins its Australian Open Super 500 campaign here on Tuesday, aiming for a first title of the season.

The Asian Games champions remain India’s most reliable performers in an otherwise uneven year, having secured a second World Championships bronze and successive runner-up finishes at the Hong Kong Super 500 and China Masters Super 750. After slipping to world No. 27 in May, the pair has climbed back to No. 3 and will look to carry that momentum into the closing stretch of the season ahead of the World Tour Finals. They open against Chinese Taipei’s Chang Ko-Chi and Po Li-Wei.

India’s singles players, meanwhile

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