At 21, Vaishnavi Adkar’s journey has already moved through disbelief, doubt, pride and rediscovery.
From receiving an unexpected main draw wild card at a W100 event to standing on the podium at the World University Games and ending India’s 46-year wait for a tennis medal, her rise has not been linear. It has been layered built on family sacrifice, financial backing, technical recalibration, and a growing self-belief forged in tight third sets.
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When Vaishnavi applied for a qualifying wild card at the W100 in Bengaluru, she was thinking about opportunity. When she was handed a main draw wild card instead, she was thinking about responsibility.
The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association’s decision surprised her. She was one of the lowest-ranked players in the draw and fully aware that she would be facing higher-ranked opponents from the outset. But rather than feeling overwhelmed, she adopted a simple framework: match-by-match.
She did not look at rankings. She did not obsess over seedings. As the tournament progressed and she found herself deeper in the draw, confidence replaced curiosity. Playing at home, backed by a vocal crowd and familiar conditions, she described enjoying every moment on court. The run to the final, achieved as a wildcard ranked 690, made her the first Indian woman since Sania Mirza to reach a W100 final a statement of intent more than a surprise.
Ending a 46-Year Wait
If Bengaluru validated her belief, Rhine-Ruhr defined her legacy.
In July 2025, Vaishnavi won bronze at the World University Games, becoming the first Indian tennis player in 46 years to win a medal at the event. She admitted she was not fully aware of the historical weight of the moment at the time. But once she stood on the podium and saw the Indian flag rise, the magnitude settled in.
It was overwhelming. Emotional. A rare sporting moment that transcended rankings and prize money. For Indian tennis, it was a breakthrough. For Vaishnavi, it was proof that she belonged at that level.
Six months later, she carried that confidence into the professional circuit.
Beginnings: A Mother’s Dream, A Child’s Discovery
Vaishnavi’s introduction to tennis was not born out of structured ambition but quiet inspiration. Her mother loved watching Wimbledon. She had wanted to play tennis as a child but could not afford it. In a joint family with four children, tennis was suggested as a physical activity.
Only Vaishnavi and her younger sister continued. The others moved toward academics.
She started at six. In the U10 category, she struggled. But in U12, she won her first tournament. That was the moment she thought: maybe this is possible.
Her playing style reflects that early instinct aggressive, instinctive, unwilling to wait. She describes herself as someone who loves “ripping the ball” and going for her shots rather than constructing points passively.
The Role of Coaching: From Kedar Shah to Rohan Bopanna Academy
Kedar Shah trained her from her U12 days and guided her through surgery and recovery. When she faced setbacks, they made a collective decision not to give up. The partnership shaped her technical base and competitive temperament.
In January, she transitioned to the Rohan Bopanna Academy in Bengaluru. The move was strategic. Moving from junior dominance to senior professional tennis requires nuance understanding pace variation, tactical adjustments, and opponent management.
She has described the academy environment as a game changer. Experienced coaches offer insights that sharpen decision-making. At higher levels, raw power is insufficient. Backup plans become essential. Opponents adjust mid-match. Coaching from the box now allowed provides perspective when momentum shifts.
The learning curve was stark at the WTA 250 Chennai Open in October 2025. After receiving a last-minute wild card and entering the main draw as a lucky loser, she faced World No. 78 Donna Vekić. The 1-6, 2-6 defeat exposed the gap in pace and experience. The speed of the ball was difficult to adapt to. Even in oppressive heat, Vekić’s level was decisive.
For Vaishnavi, it was a lesson rather than a loss.
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Despite competing increasingly on the international circuit, the Fenesta Open National Championship remained a personal target. She had missed the previous year due to illness and the year before that due to injury. Winning the 30th Fenesta Nationals in October 2025, defeating Akanksha Nitture 6-1, 6-2 in the final, was deeply satisfying. It was domestic affirmation proof that she could dominate at home even as she chased international growth.
Tennis is expensive. Equipment, coaching, travel, physiotherapy it demands constant financial backing.
Her father has been unwavering in support. Beyond family resources, organizations such as the Lakshya Institute, BPCL, and the Motilal Oswal Foundation have provided critical financial assistance. Without structured sponsorship, progression at this level is nearly impossible. She acknowledges that openly.
As tennis in India gains visibility through performances in the BJK Cup and Davis Cup, corporate interest is increasing. She sees infrastructure improving and believes more Indian players will break into the top 500 and eventually the top 200.
The Mental Framework: One Point at a Time
Vaishnavi’s defining trait may not be her forehand. It may be her mental reset.
When trailing 2-5 in a set, she focuses only on the next point. She refuses to dwell on the scoreboard. Self-belief in tight moments, she says, is everything. Her most heartbreaking losses are not against higher-ranked players they are matches where she held match point and failed to convert.
Recent results have reduced her self-doubt. There was a period when she questioned her capabilities. Now, she believes she has seen what she can achieve.
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Her parents insisted that academics would never be optional. She is currently in her third year of business administration in Pune. Time management, professor support, and adaptability allow her to balance college with tour life, even after shifting her training base to Bengaluru.
What Comes Next
As India’s new No. 2, conversations around the Billie Jean King Cup are inevitable. Representing the country is both an opportunity and a pressure she welcomes.
Her immediate goals are clear:
- Perform strongly in the BJK Cup and Asian Games
- Break into the top 400 in the coming months
- Play higher-level tournaments.
- Adapt to tougher competition
She understands that progression means facing opponents faster, stronger, and more experienced. Losses will come. The objective is adaptation. Vaishnavi Adkar’s story is not built on overnight breakthroughs. It is built on incremental belief from U12 validation to a World University Games medal, from domestic titles to W100 finals.
She plays aggressively. She trains deliberately. She studies consistently. And when the pressure builds, she narrows her focus to a single unit of time.
One point.
One step.
One climb up the rankings.
