The action is heating up at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I event in Pune, where six teams are battling it out in a round-robin format for a coveted spot in the play-offs.
With the group stage past its halfway mark, India pulled off a crucial 2-1 win over Thailand to stay in contention for the top two positions, while New Zealand remain unbeaten after another thrilling comeback win over Korea.
India 2-1 Thailand: Shrivalli Stars, Sahaja Shows Grit
India came into the tie under pressure after a tight opening loss, but turned things around with a spirited performance led by Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who gave the hosts the perfect start. Facing Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee, the 22-year-old Shrivalli displayed poise and precision in a 6-2, 6-4 win to put India 1-0 up.
The second singles, however, turned into a heartbreaker. Sahaja Yamalapalli, ranked 316, took on Thailand’s top player Mananchaya Sawangkaew (WR #110).
After dropping the first set, Sahaja dug deep, saving break points and eventually taking the second set 7-6(3). Just when it looked like a memorable comeback was on the cards, Sahaja unfortunately had to retire due to an injury after the opening game of the third set — leveling the tie at 1-1.
With all to play for, India turned to its most experienced pairing: Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare. The duo, well-versed in high-pressure situations, delivered a composed performance in the deciding doubles rubber to seal the tie and hand India their first win of the tournament.
New Zealand Edge Korea in Another Classic
Lulu Sun, New Zealand’s rising star, once again proved to be the game-changer as she helped her nation come from behind to beat Korea 2-1. Korea had taken the early lead, but Lulu responded with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 win over Dayeon Back in the second singles.
The deciding doubles rubber was a rollercoaster, as Sun and Monique Barry held their nerve to outlast Eunhye Lee and Dabin Kim in a super tie-break — winning 3-6, 6-4, [10-8] in a thriller.
Hong Kong Survive Chinese Taipei Challenge
In another tight Group I battle, Hong Kong secured a 2-1 win over Chinese Taipei, thanks to their superior doubles pairing. Chinese Taipei, despite flashes of brilliance, have now dropped both their ties and are at the bottom of the table.
With New Zealand unbeaten, they now sit atop the standings, but three other teams — Thailand, Korea, and India — are locked in a tight mid-table battle with identical win-loss records. The battle for the top two spots, which secure advancement to the next stage of the Billie Jean King Cup, remains wide open.
India’s upcoming tie will be pivotal. With momentum from the Thailand win and home advantage, captain Vishal Uppal will hope Shrivalli, Ankita, and the doubles pair can keep the fire burning.
Key Takeaways from Pune So Far:
•Shrivalli Bhamidipaty is emerging as a reliable singles weapon for India, showing maturity beyond her years.
•Injuries are unfortunately a factor — Sahaja’s retirement could impact India’s singles strength going forward.
•Doubles depth will be crucial — with many ties going to the wire, nations with established pairs (like India and New Zealand) are holding an edge.
•Lulu Sun continues to be the standout player of the tournament so far, with two match-turning performances already under her belt.
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