Bengaluru Set to Host India’s Biggest ITF Women’s Tennis Tournament

Just days after India’s memorable Davis Cup triumph over the Netherlands, Bengaluru is ready to welcome another high-profile international tennis event.

The fourth edition of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026 will be staged at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium from 15–22 February, reaffirming the city’s growing stature on the global tennis calendar.

As a W100 category event, the tournament represents the highest-tier ITF women’s competition hosted in India. With substantial WTA ranking points on offer and prize money of $100,000, it serves as a crucial bridge between the ITF circuit and the WTA Tour. For Indian players, it presents a rare and valuable opportunity to compete against top-150 and top-100 opponents without leaving home soil.

The event will feature a 32-player singles main draw, a 32-player qualifying draw, and a 16-team doubles draw. Qualifying begins on 15 February, with the main draw scheduled to commence on 17 February.

Indian Wildcards and Opportunity on Home Soil

Four Indian players have been awarded main-draw wildcards Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Vaishnavi Adkar.

For Sahaja Yamalapalli, currently India’s top-ranked women’s singles player, this tournament is another important stepping stone in her professional journey. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who has shown steady progress on the ITF circuit and in Billie Jean King Cup ties, will look to convert home advantage into a deep run. Young talent Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, India’s top-ranked junior, continues her transition into senior-level competition, while Vaishnavi Adkar adds depth to the Indian challenge.

The W100 format ensures that every match carries ranking weight and competitive intensity. For Indian players trying to break into the top 200 and beyond, these home tournaments are pivotal — both in terms of points and confidence.

Strong International Field

The field assembled in Bengaluru underlines the tournament’s growing reputation. Austria’s Julia Grabher (WTA No. 79) headlines the draw, followed by Australia’s Talia Gibson (WTA No. 112) and France’s Léolia Jeanjean (WTA No. 117), who returns after finishing runner-up here last year.

Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee (No. 126), Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel (No. 135), Australia’s Taylah Preston (No. 151), and Great Britain’s Harriet Dart (No. 178) further strengthen the competition. Also in the mix are Polina Iatcenko, Mananchaya Sawangkaew fresh off her title-winning run in Mumbai and Russia’s Erika Andreeva, whose pedigree adds further intrigue to the draw.

The diversity and ranking depth of the entry list reinforce Bengaluru’s emergence as a serious stop on the international women’s circuit.

A Tournament That Has Grown With the City

Since its inception in 2021 as a $15,000 event, the Bengaluru tournament has witnessed a remarkable upward trajectory. The inaugural edition was won by India’s Pranjala Yadlapalli. In 2023, the event was upgraded to a $40,000 (W40) category, with Czech Republic’s Brenda Fruhvirtova claiming the title.

The milestone came in 2024 when the tournament achieved W100 status, placing it among the most significant ITF events globally. In 2025, Germany’s Tatjana Maria lifted the trophy after a hard-fought three-set victory over Léolia Jeanjean, highlighting the consistently high standard of competition.

The steady progression in category, prize money, and global participation reflects not just the tournament’s ambition, but Bengaluru’s broader commitment to tennis development.

Vision Beyond the Tournament

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Maheshwar Rao, IAS, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority and Honorary Secretary of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, emphasized the city’s growing tennis footprint. He noted that hosting a W100 event consolidates Bengaluru’s position as an international tennis destination and reinforces its commitment to providing world-class facilities for players and fans alike.

Mr. KP Balaraj, founder of the KPB Family Trust, echoed similar sentiments, expressing pride in the tournament’s growth and long-term partnership with the ITF. The sustained investment in women’s tennis reflects a broader effort to create structured opportunities for professional competition within India.

Bengaluru has already established itself as a key tennis hub, having hosted the Bengaluru Open ATP 125 Challenger earlier this year the biggest men’s professional tennis event in the country. The addition of a W100 women’s event strengthens the city’s balanced tennis calendar and ensures consistent exposure across both tours.

For Indian women’s tennis, the timing of the tournament is significant. Ranking points accumulated here could influence entry into larger WTA events and shape selection conversations for international team competitions later in the season.

With global attention already focused on tennis following India’s Davis Cup success, the W100 Bengaluru offers another platform — this time for the country’s women players  to make a statement.

Over the next eight days, Bengaluru will once again become the centre of Indian tennis, blending elite international competition with the aspirations of a new generation.