India’s Shrivalli Bhamidipaty delivered a composed and resilient performance to secure her place in the Round of 16 at the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026, edging past Malta’s Francesca Curmi 7-6(6), 6-4 in a tightly contested first-round encounter at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium on Wednesday.
With the home crowd firmly behind her, Bhamidipaty showcased both temperament and tactical clarity to overcome a spirited challenge from Curmi in a match that demanded patience and precision from the Indian.
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The contest began on even footing, with Bhamidipaty striking a couple of aces in the opening game to signal her intent. However, Curmi quickly settled into the rhythm of extended baseline rallies and secured the first break in the third game, forcing the Indian to respond.
Bhamidipaty broke back immediately but struggled to consolidate as Curmi regained the advantage with another break and held serve to maintain pressure. The exchanges were intense, with both players engaging in long, grinding rallies that tested consistency and court coverage.
Staying calm under pressure, Bhamidipaty held serve and produced a crucial break in the eighth game to draw level. As neither player was willing to concede ground, the set progressed into a tiebreak.
There, Bhamidipaty initially faltered, missing a set point after constructing the rally well and pushing Curmi wide. But she regrouped swiftly, rediscovered her first serve, and closed out the breaker with a strong ace to claim the opening set 7-6(6).
Composure Seals the Deal
Carrying the momentum into the second set, the Indian earned an early break to move ahead. As the match wore on, Curmi began to show signs of physical strain, and a couple of untimely unforced errors proved costly. Bhamidipaty capitalised with another break in the seventh game to take firm control.
Although Curmi managed to claw back one break and briefly threatened to extend the contest, Bhamidipaty remained composed. Serving with authority and reducing her error count, she closed out the match 6-4 to join fellow Indians Sahaja Yamalapalli and Vaishnavi Adkar in the Round of 16.
The victory underlined her growing maturity on court—an ability to absorb pressure, adjust mid-match, and execute when it mattered most.
Mixed Fortunes for Indian Contingent
Earlier in the day, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi endured a fluctuating battle against fifth seed Polina Iatcenko, eventually falling 1-6, 6-1, 0-6. Revathi struggled to find rhythm in the opening set, particularly on returns, and conceded it quickly. However, she responded impressively in the second set, capitalising on a dip in Iatcenko’s intensity to level the match.
The decider, though, swung decisively in favour of the fifth seed. A flurry of errors from Revathi allowed Iatcenko to surge to a 4-0 lead. Despite pushing one game to an extended deuce, the Indian was unable to convert, and Iatcenko sealed the match comfortably.
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Top seed Talia Gibson of Australia progressed with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Vaidehee Chaudhari, pulling away after a competitive first set. Third seed Hanne Vandewinkel defeated Ya-Hsuan Lee 6-1, 6-2, while second seed Lanlana Tararudee secured a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Victoria Milovanova.
Seventh seed Elena Pridankina edged past Eri Shimizu 7-6(5), 6-4 in another closely fought encounter. Elsewhere, Mei Yamaguchi defeated Anastasia Kulikova 3-6, 6-0, 6-1; Kristiana Sidorova came back to beat Sohyun Park 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Arina Gabriela Vasilescu overcame Priska Madelyn Nugroho 6-2, 6-3; and Jasmijn Gimbrere won a tight 7-5, 7-5 contest against Misaki Matsuda.
The doubles draw also witnessed a significant upset. Anastasia Kulikova and Kristiana Sidorova stunned top seeds Harriet Dart and Nicole Fossa Huergo 6-3, 0-6, 10-8 in a match decided by a dramatic super tie-break. After splitting the first two sets, the unseeded pair held their nerve in the closing stages to seal the win 10-8.
Thursday promises stern tests for the remaining Indian hopefuls. Bhamidipaty faces third seed Hanne Vandewinkel in what will be a demanding second-round clash. Wildcard Vaishnavi Adkar takes on eighth seed Mai Hontama, while Sahaja Yamalapalli is set to meet top seed Talia Gibson, who looked dominant in her opening-round outing. For Bhamidipaty, the immediate focus will be recovery and tactical preparation. Her first-round win demonstrated resilience and an ability to manage high-pressure moments qualities she will need in abundance against higher-ranked opposition.
As the tournament gathers momentum, the presence of multiple Indians in the Round of 16 keeps home interest alive at India’s premier ITF women’s event, setting up an intriguing phase of competition at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium.
