Slovenia secured their place in the Billie Jean King Cup 2026 Qualifiers after defeating India 2–1 in the Play-offs on Saturday at the KSLTA Stadium in Bengaluru.
While the hosts ended the tie on a positive note with a spirited doubles victory, Slovenia’s strength in singles proved decisive as they clinched both rubbers earlier in the day.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The opening singles match set the tone for a competitive afternoon. Slovenia’s Tamara Zidanšek (World No. 162) prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 against India’s rising talent Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (No. 381).
Zidanšek dominated early to take the first set, but Bhamidipaty responded with an impressive second-set surge. The Indian broke in the very first game, built a commanding 5–1 lead, and held her nerve to force a decider. Zidanšek, however, drew upon her experience to reassert control in the third set, accelerating through the final stretch to give Slovenia the opening point.
“It’s almost like a dream weekend,” Zidanšek said. “The energy and organization here have been amazing. The Indian girls should be really proud it’s not easy playing for your country. I hope they’ve inspired more girls to play tennis in India.”
Juvan Defeats Yamalapalli to Seal the Tie
The second singles rubber featured the top players from each side: Kaja Juvan (No. 98) for Slovenia and Sahaja Yamalapalli (No. 309) for India. Juvan edged a tight first set by breaking at 5–4 and carried that momentum into the second, racing ahead early to complete a confident 6-4, 6-2 win.
Her victory gave Slovenia an unassailable 2–0 lead in the tie, securing their progression to the 2026 Qualifiers. India End on High with Raina–Thombare Doubles Win
In the final match of the day, India’s experienced pair Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare faced Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupović and Nika Radišić. Slovenia stormed through the opening set 6–1, but Raina and Thombare responded admirably, breaking early and taking the second set 6–3.
In the super tie-break, the Indian duo held their nerve to complete a 1-6, 6-3, 10-7 comeback victory, giving the home crowd a reason to cheer and ensuring India finished the tie with a win on the board.
Indian Players Reflect on Home Support
Despite the overall defeat, the Indian squad emphasized the importance of competing at home and the encouraging rise of support for women’s tennis in the country.
“I’m really happy so many people showed up and cheered for Team India,” said Bhamidipaty after her singles match. “We wanted to give our 100% and show why more girls should be backed and why women should play more sports.”
Yamalapalli added: “The atmosphere was wonderful. I grew up playing at this venue, so seeing so many familiar faces was special. The crowd lifted me today. With all the young girls watching, I hope they know they can be here too.”
Slovenia Advance, India Take Positives
With a 2–1 overall win, Slovenia march into the Billie Jean King Cup 2026 Qualifiers, keeping their hopes alive of reaching the elite World Group. For India, the tie provided valuable experience for a young squad and showcased promising performances, particularly from Bhamidipaty and the Raina–Thombare pairing.
