Bengaluru witnessed a rare blend of elite tennis, star power and festive atmosphere on Wednesday as the World Tennis League made its India debut at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium, Cubbon Park.
With globally renowned players such as Daniil Medvedev, Denis Shapovalov, Nick Kyrgios, Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk and Paula Badosa in action, the opening day delivered competitive tennis and a carnival-like experience for fans in the Garden City.
As the evening sun dipped, the stands steadily filled up, with nearly 2,000 spectators turning up to watch the first-ever edition of the league on Indian soil. Adding to the buzz, several Bollywood celebrities and sporting icons were spotted courtside, underlining the league’s ambition to position tennis as a premium entertainment product.
Hawks Edge Past Kites in Opening Tie
The inaugural match of the league saw the Hawks defeat the Kites 25–21 in a closely fought encounter that swung back and forth before tilting decisively in the Hawks’ favour. The tie began with men’s singles, where Canada’s Denis Shapovalov set the tone by defeating India’s Dhakshineswar Suresh 7–5. While the scoreline suggests a narrow contest, Shapovalov’s experience proved crucial in key moments, especially late in the set when he broke serve with two sublime backhand winners.
In the women’s singles, Elina Svitolina underlined her class with a gritty 7–5 comeback win over compatriot Marta Kostyuk. Kostyuk appeared in control at one stage, leading 4–1 and later 5–3, and even held a chance to close out the set. However, a double fault and an overhit lob at a critical juncture allowed Svitolina to claw back. Once she broke serve, the former world No. 3 tightened her game and closed the match, significantly extending the Hawks’ lead.
The Kites struck back in men’s doubles, with Nick Kyrgios and Dhakshineswar Suresh combining well to beat the Shapovalov–Yuki Bhambri pairing 6–4. Kyrgios, returning after injury and surgery, entertained the crowd with his trademark flair and touch, drawing loud cheers with his shot-making and on-court energy.
The tie concluded with women’s doubles, where Svitolina partnered Maaya Rajeshwaran to register a 7–5 win over Kostyuk and Ankita Raina. The victory sealed the Hawks’ 25–21 triumph and capped a strong start to their campaign.
Eagles Prevail in Night Encounter
Under floodlights, the second match of the day saw the Eagles defeat the Falcons 18–16 in another evenly matched contest.
France’s Gaël Monfils gave the Eagles an early boost by overpowering Daniil Medvedev 6–3 in men’s singles. Monfils’ athleticism and variety unsettled the Russian, allowing the Frenchman to dictate play and pocket valuable points. The Falcons responded through Magda Linette, who defeated Paula Badosa 6–4 in women’s singles, keeping the tie finely balanced. The momentum, however, swung again in mixed doubles, where Badosa teamed up with Sumit Nagal to beat the Falcons’ Rohan Bopanna–Linette pair 6–1 in a dominant display.
Bopanna and Medvedev then restored parity for the Falcons with a 6–2 win over Nagal and Monfils in men’s doubles, setting up a decisive finish. In the final singles match, Monfils once again rose to the occasion, defeating Medvedev 6–3 to clinch the tie for the Eagles.
Stars, Spectators and Early Hiccups
Beyond the tennis, the opening day had a distinct glitz quotient. Bollywood actors Rakul Preet Singh, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and Jacqueline Fernandez were among those present, while Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev was also seen in the VIP gallery, soaking in the action.
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There was, however, a brief disruption early in the day when spectators seated on the left side of the stadium raised concerns about an entrance structure obstructing their view. The match was halted for around five minutes, and fans were relocated to an adjacent stand to ensure uninterrupted viewing. Despite the minor hiccup, the World Tennis League’s first day succeeded in delivering high-quality tennis and an engaging spectator experience.
With international stars sharing the court with Indian players and enthusiastic crowds responding in kind, Bengaluru’s tryst with world-class team tennis has begun on an encouraging note.
