Indian women’s tennis received a timely boost on the eve of the main draw of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026, as Vaidehee Chaudhari sealed her place through qualifying and the title sponsor unveiled a ₹10 lakh incentive for any Indian singles champion at the tournament.
Chaudhari, seeded sixth in the qualifying draw, delivered a composed and purposeful performance to overcome Evgeniya Burdina 6-2, 7-5 in the final round of qualifiers. From the opening exchanges, the Indian moved with assurance along the baseline, dictating rallies with depth and consistency. Her sharp court coverage forced Burdina into errors in the opening set, which Chaudhari wrapped up efficiently.
The second set demanded greater resilience. Chaudhari broke early to establish control, but a brief dip in accuracy allowed Burdina to claw back and level the score. The response from the Indian was immediate and mature. Raising her intensity at a crucial juncture, Chaudhari broke serve in the 11th game and then held her nerve to close out the match, securing a deserved spot in the main draw of the country’s biggest ITF women’s event.
While Chaudhari’s qualification was a significant on-court result, the bigger talking point of the day came off it. KPB Family Trust, the title sponsor of the tournament, announced a special incentive of ₹10 lakh for any Indian player who goes on to win the singles title this week. The announcement has injected fresh energy into the Indian contingent, many of whom are seeking a breakthrough performance at this level.
Explaining the intent behind the initiative, KP Balraj of KPB Family Trust emphasised a long-term vision for Indian women’s tennis. The incentive, he said, is designed not merely as a reward, but as encouragement for Indian players to compete with belief and ambition against higher-ranked international opposition. The Trust hopes the gesture will help foster a stronger competitive culture and inspire players to push their limits on the global stage.
The announcement comes at an opportune moment, with a sizeable Indian presence set to feature in the singles main draw. Players such as Sahaja Yamalapalli, along with wildcards Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, Shruti Ahlawat and Vaishnavi Adkar, will be keen to capitalise on home conditions. For several of them, the incentive adds an extra layer of motivation as they look to convert opportunity into tangible success.
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Indian interest is equally strong in the doubles draw, where experience and youth intersect. Veteran campaigner Prarthana G Thombare teams up with Jasmijn Gimbrere as the second seeds, while former India No. 1 Ankita Raina partners Priska Madelyn Nugroho to form the third-seeded combination. Beyond the seeded pairs, the doubles competition features a deep Indian footprint, with multiple all-Indian teams adding to the home flavour and ensuring sustained local interest through the week.
Among the notable Indian pairings are Sonal Patil with Bela Tamhankar, Vaidehee Chaudhari alongside Sahaja Yamalapalli, Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi with Zeel Desai, and Harshini Nagaraj teaming up with Vanshita Pathania. Young prospects Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi will also play together, as will Vaishnavi Adkar and Shruti Ahlawat, underlining the tournament’s role as a platform for emerging talent.
As the focus shifts to the main draw, the Bengaluru event stands at an interesting intersection for Indian women’s tennis. It offers valuable ranking points, high-quality international competition, and now, a tangible financial incentive aimed squarely at encouraging Indian success. For players like Vaidehee Chaudhari, who have already negotiated the demanding qualifying rounds, the challenge now is to carry that momentum forward.
With packed draws, strong overseas participation and renewed belief among Indian players, the stage is set for a compelling week of tennis in Bengaluru one that could yet produce a home-grown story worth remembering.
