Shrivalli Bhamidipaty calls for more high-level tournaments at home to fuel Indian women’s tennis

Shrivalli Bhamidipaty’s rise over the past year has underlined both the promise of Indian women’s tennis and the structural gaps that still limit its growth.

A standout performer for India at the Billie Jean King Cup and one of the country’s most exciting prospects, Shrivalli has used her own journey to make a clear case: India needs to host more high-level women’s tournaments at home if its players are to consistently compete and progress on the global stage.

The 2025 season was a significant one for the Hyderabad-born player. Shrivalli played a key role in India’s Billie Jean King Cup campaign in April in Pune, finishing unbeaten with a 5–0 singles record in the qualifiers play-off group. Her performances not only showcased her temperament in pressure situations but also reinforced her status as a reliable match-winner for the national side. Just as her season appeared set to build momentum, a minor injury forced her out of action for nearly three to four months. The layoff ruled her out of several Asian tournaments, a stretch of the calendar that could have provided valuable ranking points and continuity.

Speaking in an interview with Sportstar and The Hindu, Shrivalli highlighted the broader challenges faced by Indian women players despite their improving results. “On a general level, there has to be a change around the sport’s culture and the support system, especially on the women’s side,” she said. Pointing to the current generation, she added that players like Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehee Chaudhari, Maaya Rajeshwaran and others have all been performing consistently on the international tour. “We have been doing really well on the tour,” Shrivalli noted, stressing that the talent pool is deeper than ever.

However, the lack of a well-spread domestic calendar remains a major hurdle. India currently hosts around eight to ten women’s tournaments a year, mostly ITF most of which are scheduled towards the end of the season, effectively during the off-season on the global tour. Shrivalli believes this imbalance hurts players both competitively and financially. Ideally, she feels India should host 15 to 20 tournaments spread across the year, allowing players to build rhythm, earn points, and reduce the physical and financial strain of constant long-haul travel.

The travel issue, in particular, is one she speaks about candidly. “Every time I have to travel to the US, I spend 26 hours on a flight,” she explained, adding that it then takes another two to three days just to recover from jet lag. For players operating outside the top tier, these logistical challenges often come at the cost of training time, recovery, and consistency factors that directly affect performance and rankings.

Despite these constraints, Shrivalli has shown encouraging flashes of her potential against elite opposition. Even in matches where consistency has eluded her, she has gone toe-to-toe with higher-ranked players, including a competitive showing against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, who later went on to reach the final of the Chennai Open.

She also enjoyed a solid run at the WTA 125 event in Mumbai, reaching the quarterfinals, and impressed during the World Tennis League in Bengaluru, where she held her own against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, a former world No. 16 and currently ranked inside the top 30.

What stands out in Shrivalli’s trajectory is her comfort level in bigger tournaments at home. In recent seasons, India has hosted four to five higher-category ITF women’s tournaments, and Shrivalli’s performances in these settings underline the value of quality home events in accelerating player development.

Her potential has not gone unnoticed internationally. During her stint with the AOS Eagles in the World Tennis League, former world No. 2 Paula Badosa remarked that Shrivalli could be “India’s future star,” praising the way she strikes the ball and her natural power. Such endorsements reinforce what many within Indian tennis already believe: that the raw material is there, but the ecosystem needs strengthening.

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Shrivalli’s argument is straightforward: if Indian players are expected to compete regularly at the WTA level, there must be a stronger domestic base. She believes the All India Tennis Association (AITA) should commit to hosting at least ten high-level women’s tournaments annually, specifically in the W75, W125, and WTA Tour categories. These events would not only provide ranking opportunities but also build confidence and match toughness against stronger fields.

Recent examples support her case. Maaya Rajeshwaran’s exciting run at WTA Mumbai last year, along with strong performances by Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli herself at the Chennai Open, shows that Indian players can rise to the occasion when given the platform. The same logic, Shrivalli feels, applies equally to the men’s side, where a richer domestic calendar could similarly aid long-term growth.

As Indian tennis looks to elevate itself alongside sports like badminton, javelin throw, and table tennis, the message from one of its brightest young stars is clear. Talent is no longer the limiting factor. Structure, scheduling, and sustained opportunities at home could be the key to unlocking the next level for Indian tennis.