As the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy (RBTA) completes a decade of nurturing tennis talent in India, the academy has marked the milestone with the launch of a new high-performance initiative the Motilal Oswal Foundation Advantage Program.
The partnership aims to provide structured support to some of the country’s most promising tennis players as they look to establish themselves on the international circuit.
Announced as part of RBTA’s 10-year celebrations, the program represents a significant collaboration between the academy and the Motilal Oswal Foundation, focusing on developing India’s next generation of elite players through a comprehensive three-year pathway.
The initiative is designed to create a professional ecosystem around emerging Indian athletes, offering access to world-class coaching, sports science support, physiotherapy, and structured tournament planning. By combining financial backing with high-performance training, the program seeks to address a long-standing gap in Indian tennis the lack of sustained developmental support for players transitioning to the global stage.
Three Promising Players Signed
As part of the program’s initial phase, RBTA has signed three talented Indian players who will benefit from the new development pathway.
Among them is Vaishnavi Adkar, currently ranked India No. 2 and World No. 468 in singles. The 21-year-old recently made headlines after reaching the final of the ITF W100 Women’s Open in Bengaluru, becoming the first Indian woman in 17 years to achieve the feat at a tournament of that level or higher since Sania Mirza’s run at the Pattaya Open in 2009.
Adkar’s breakthrough performance came while she was training at RBTA, underlining the academy’s growing role in shaping India’s emerging tennis talent.
Joining her in the program is Dhakshineswar Suresh, currently India No. 5 and World No. 472 in singles. Suresh recently played a crucial role in India’s Davis Cup victory over the Netherlands, where he won both his singles matches and contributed to the doubles rubber in a dramatic 3–2 win for the national team.
The third player selected for the program is experienced doubles specialist Prarthana Thombare, currently India No. 2 in doubles and World No. 157 in the doubles rankings. Thombare brings significant international experience, having won a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games alongside Sania Mirza and represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The mix of youth and experience among the three athletes reflects the program’s goal of supporting players at different stages of their professional journeys.
High-Performance Support System
Under the Motilal Oswal Foundation Advantage Program, the players will receive holistic support designed to maximize their development and competitive potential.
Leading the coaching structure will be Balachandran Manikkath, a former national champion with more than three decades of experience in coaching elite players. Based in Bengaluru, Manikkath will oversee the training program while also traveling with the players during key tournaments to provide on-court guidance.
Complementing the coaching setup is physiotherapist Isha Galgali, who will manage the athletes’ physical conditioning and recovery. Galgali will also accompany the players on tour, ensuring consistent physiotherapy and injury prevention support during the demanding professional schedule.
RBTA is also in the process of adding another coach to the program, further strengthening the support system available to the athletes.
Building an Ecosystem for Indian Tennis
Speaking about the initiative, Rohan Bopanna, founder of RBTA and a two-time Grand Slam champion, highlighted the importance of creating a sustainable ecosystem for Indian players.
“As RBTA completes 10 years, it is incredibly meaningful to partner with the Motilal Oswal Foundation to create structured opportunities for Indian players,” Bopanna said.
“This program is about providing the right ecosystem coaching, support staff, and resources so talented athletes can focus on competing and realizing their potential on the global stage.”
The partnership reflects a broader vision to address the structural challenges faced by Indian tennis players, particularly during the critical transition from junior to professional levels.
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Since its establishment, the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy has played a key role in developing young tennis players in India through high-performance training and international exposure. As the academy enters its second decade, the launch of the Motilal Oswal Foundation Advantage Program signals a renewed commitment to nurturing elite talent and strengthening India’s presence in global tennis.
With promising players already on board and a dedicated support structure in place, RBTA hopes the initiative will help produce the next generation of Indian stars capable of competing consistently on the world stage.
The academy has also expressed its gratitude to the Motilal Oswal Foundation for supporting its vision of building a stronger future for Indian tennis one that offers young athletes the tools, guidance, and opportunities needed to succeed internationally.
