The seventh season of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) got off to a vibrant start at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium, as four teams opened their campaigns with victories on a competitive first day.
Making its first appearance in Ahmedabad, the league showcased high-quality tennis from a mix of Indian stars and international names, with SG Pipers Bengaluru and Chennai Smashers emerging as the joint table-toppers after day one. Played on the league’s signature charcoal-coloured court, the opening day saw all eight teams in action across four hard-fought ties. SG Pipers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Rangers, GS Delhi Aces and Chennai Smashers all registered wins, setting the stage for an intense and closely contested Season 7.
SG Pipers Bengaluru set the tone in the opening match of the season against Gurgaon Grand Slammers. The tie began with the Women’s Singles, where Shrivalli Bhamidipaty wasted little time in asserting her dominance. The young Indian produced a clinical performance to defeat Sahaja Yamalapalli 18-7, giving SG Pipers an early lead and momentum.
Shrivalli then returned to court in the Mixed Doubles alongside Rohan Bopanna. Facing Sahaja Yamalapalli and Sriram Balaji, the experienced pairing combined smart net play with steady baseline control to register a tight 14-11 win. Gurgaon Grand Slammers hit back in the Men’s Singles through Dan Evans, who outplayed Ramkumar Ramanathan 16-9 to narrow the gap.
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The Men’s Doubles proved decisive. Bopanna and Ramkumar reunited to take on Balaji and Evans, and the SG Pipers pair held their nerve in key moments to claim a 15-10 win. The result sealed a 56-44 victory for SG Pipers Bengaluru, giving them a strong start to the campaign and an early lead in the standings.
The second tie of the day featured defending champions Hyderabad Strikers against Rajasthan Rangers. Hyderabad struck first, with Carole Monnet delivering a commanding 18-7 win over Ekaterina Kazionova in the Women’s Singles. Rajasthan Rangers responded immediately in the Mixed Doubles, as Kazionova teamed up with Dhakshineswar Suresh to edge past Carole Monnet and Vishnu Vardhan 13-12 in a closely contested encounter.
World No. 26 Luciano Darderi then produced a composed display in the Men’s Singles to defeat Pedro Martinez 15-10, swinging momentum firmly towards the Rangers. Darderi returned for the Men’s Doubles alongside Dhakshineswar Suresh and dominated Vishnu Vardhan and Martinez 17-8. The strong finish helped Rajasthan Rangers clinch a narrow 52-48 win over the defending champions.
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The third match of the day saw GS Delhi Aces take on Yash Mumbai Eagles in another closely fought tie. Delhi Aces got off the mark through Sofia Costoulas, who claimed a 16-9 win over Riya Bhatia in the Women’s Singles. Yash Mumbai Eagles replied in the Mixed Doubles, with Riya Bhatia and Niki Poonacha defeating Costoulas and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 15-10.
In the Men’s Singles, Billy Harris gave Delhi Aces the edge with a 15-10 victory over Damir Dzumhur. The Eagles levelled matters once again in the Men’s Doubles, as Dzumhur and Poonacha edged Harris and Nedunchezhiyan 14-11. Despite the back-and-forth nature of the contest, GS Delhi Aces held on to secure a 52-48 victory.
Chennai Smashers produced the most emphatic result of the day in the final tie, overcoming home favourites Gujarat Panthers. Irina Bara started well for the Smashers, winning the Women’s Singles 15-10 against Nuria Brancaccio. The Panthers struck back in the Mixed Doubles, where Brancaccio and Anirudh Chandrasekar edged past Bara and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli 13-12.
Dalibor Svrcina then delivered a standout performance in the Men’s Singles, cruising to a 17-8 win over Alexandre Müller. Svrcina returned with Bollipalli for the Men’s Doubles and the pair clinched a narrow 13-12 win over Müller and Chandrasekar. The strong close sealed a comprehensive 57-43 victory for Chennai Smashers, allowing them to finish day one alongside SG Pipers Bengaluru at the top of the table.
With four teams picking up wins and several ties decided by fine margins, the opening day underlined the competitiveness of TPL Season 7, promising more high-intensity encounters as the tournament progresses.
