For the past couple of months, young Indian junior Srishti Kiran has been making a habit of winning matches on the ITF junior circuit. The 13-year-old has already started turning heads with her results and rapid rise.
Last weekend, Kiran won her third consecutive ITF J30 title, lifting the trophy in Huamantla, Mexico, to complete an impressive 15-match winning streak. That run has now extended further, with the teenager winning 19 matches in a row after continuing her strong form at another ITF J30 event in Huamantla this week.
Despite the growing attention, Kiran insists she is staying grounded and focused on the process rather than the numbers.
“I am super excited to win my 3rd ITF title in a row,” Kiran told IndiaSportsHub in an exclusive interview earlier this week.
“It’s great to have won 15 matches in a row and without dropping a set, but I take one match at a time and remain more focused on the points I play. Records and these streaks will happen on their own and I am fortunate to be part of this streak.”
Kiran began playing tennis at the age of four in Bengaluru, and says she immediately fell in love with the sport.
“I started tennis at the age of 4. My dad introduced me to the sport, I instantly loved it and was also good at it from Day 1. My dad tells me during my first lesson at age 4, my coach came to my dad and said she will be India No.1,” the teenager said.
Three years later, at just seven, Kiran had an interaction that strengthened her belief in pursuing tennis professionally.
“When I was around 7, I met Leander Paes and Rohan Boppana at KSLTA. That interaction with them made me feel that I should take up the sport professionally and make my country proud. It was my dad’s dream too,” Kiran reflects back on that time.
It is no surprise then that Kiran cites Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna both former world No. 1s and multiple Grand Slam championsas her role models.
“My role models in Indian tennis have been Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna. I love how humble they are as I have interacted very closely with them. I met Leander in a tennis camp as a 7-year-old. He liked my game so much he gifted his T-shirt with his autograph saying ” My Champion Srishti”. I was on national media in a fully packed stadium.
It’s a day I would never forget and he invited me personally for his facilitation (his last ATP match) and interacted with me and I had won my first AITA trophy on the same day. He was so humble he gave his personal phone number to my dad and said anything help he is always there. Rohan Boppana Sir has always been a friend. I used to watch the Bengaluru Open next to him and would talk about tennis. He was so humble answering my questions patiently. These are invaluable lessons I have fortunately learnt from these greats.”
Outside India, Kiran says she draws inspiration from world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and multiple Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, believing her style combines the best elements of both.
“My dad always told me never to have a weakness in your game. Every stroke of mine is a strength – my forehand, my back hand, my serves and my drop shots all are my weapons. The only area I’m working on are my volleys” she admits with a smile.
In 2025, Kiran moved to the United States to further develop her game at the RPS Academies in Florida. She credits her coaches and support system, both in India and abroad, for helping her progress.
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“I am very fortunate with my coaches. They love me and I love them back – all my coaches in India especially Dhyan (Uthapa) Sir to my present coaches in USA – Juan Abuchaibe and Andres Weisskopf – my physio Ivan and Cari. All my coaches have been my mentors, they have trained me with extra care every single day and I too love them so much. I am very thankful to team RPS Academy, KSLTA, Sunil Yajaman Sir, ATF and AITA for always supporting me,” the 13-year-old said.
While she remains humble about her success so far, Kiran is clear about her long-term ambition to achieve what only Steffi Graf has managed in tennis history.
“My ambition is to win a Golden Slam, which only Steffi Graf has accomplished. As we both share our birthday I hope we can share the record too and be world no 1 and inspire the next generation of kids from my country,” Kiran signs off.
