In the shifting landscape of Indian women’s tennis where icons like Sania Mirza once commanded global attention a new contender is rapidly emerging. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, a 23-year-old from Hyderabad, has become one of the brightest prospects in the country’s tennis system.
With a blend of power, tactical maturity, and steel-willed competitiveness, she is increasingly seen as India’s next big thing. As of November 2025, Shrivalli holds a career-high WTA singles ranking of 386, making her India’s second-highest ranked singles player behind Sahaja Yamalapalli and ahead of veteran Ankita Raina another indicator of her swift upward curve.
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What makes Shrivalli’s rise even more remarkable is that she wasn’t a tennis prodigy in the conventional sense. She picked up a racket at the age of 11, much later than most top players, drawn initially by the glamour she saw on TV rather than dreams of international titles. But what began as curiosity quickly turned into ambition. Backed by her parents father BRN Prasad, a chartered accountant, and mother B Rajshri Shrivalli trained diligently while completing her commerce degree, even expressing interest in pursuing chartered accountancy abroad before fully committing to tennis.
Her talent sharpened rapidly through junior circuits, and by her late teens she was competing in ITF events across India. Her breakthrough moment came in 2023, when she swept both singles and doubles titles at the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship—a rare “double” that established her as a standout among India’s next generation.
A Strong Case for India’s Next Big Tennis Star
Shrivalli’s reputation has grown on the back of consistent improvement, resilience, and the ability to produce big wins at crucial moments. As Indian tennis undergoes a generational shift, her performances in the last two seasons have placed her at the centre of conversations about the future of the sport.
Her rise accelerated significantly in 2025, during India’s campaign at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I in Pune. Making her debut, Shrivalli delivered a flawless performance winning all five of her matches, three singles and two doubles. Her dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over New Zealand’s Aishi Das showcased her aggressive baseline style and calm under pressure. India’s unbeaten run in the group earned them promotion to the playoffs and earned Shrivalli the BJK Cup Heart Award for the Asia/Oceania zone an honour voted by fans, celebrating her fighting spirit and contribution to the team.
Her international credibility was further strengthened by notable WTA milestones. In 2024, Shrivalli qualified for her first WTA 125 event in Mumbai, where she stunned World No. 93 Nao Hibino in the opening round. A year later, she notched her first WTA 250 main-draw win at the Chennai Open, defeating rising teenage star Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi 6-1, 6-4. These upset victories over higher-ranked opponents cement her potential to break into the top 200 a barrier no Indian woman has consistently crossed since Mirza’s prime.
Even in defeat, she continues to impress. At the 2025 BJK Cup playoffs in Bengaluru, Shrivalli pushed former French Open semifinalist Tamara Zidansek to three sets (3-6, 6-4, 1-6) and delivered a competitive performance against Dutch No. 2 Anouk Koevermans. Though India fell short against Slovenia and the Netherlands, Shrivalli’s composure and willingness to take on top-level opponents signaled her readiness for a bigger stage.
Career Highlights
Tournament/Category | Achievement
- National Titles, Fenesta Open singles & doubles champion (2023)
- ITF Circuit, 2 ITF singles titles (Bengaluru 2023, Solapur 2024), 6 ITF doubles titles; career-high WTA ranking of No. 300 (October 2024)
- WTA Milestones, First WTA 125 win (Mumbai 2024); first WTA 250 win (Chennai 2025)
- International Representation, Unbeaten in BJK Cup Group I; Heart Award winner (2025)
- Doubles, Ranked 392 in WTA doubles (November 2025), with strong partnerships domestically and on the ITF Tour
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Off the court, Shrivalli is grounded, introspective, and quietly ambitious. She cites Novak Djokovic as her inspiration, admiring his resilience and mental strength qualities she seeks to mirror in her own career. The grind of lower-tier ITF tournaments, injuries, travel challenges, and the financial demands of the tour have tested her resolve, but she has persisted thanks to a strong support system. She currently trains under coach Anand Kumar in Hyderabad, with additional mentorship from former Davis Cupper Vishal Uppal.
Together, they are shaping a roadmap aimed at catapulting her into the global conversation.
Looking ahead, Shrivalli’s goals are clear and ambitious:
- Break into the WTA Top 200
- Qualify for Grand Slams
- Lead India in future BJK Cup ties
- Represent India at the Olympics
With a powerful forehand, an improving serve, and the competitive temperament required at higher levels, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty is not just a promising player she is a potential gamechanger for Indian tennis.
If her current trajectory continues, she may soon become the face of the next era in Indian women’s tennis.
