India’s Dhakshineswar Suresh, representing the Aussie Mavericks Kites, delivered a decisive performance by defeating Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev 6-4 in the final set, propelling his team into the summit clash of the World Tennis League.
Sensational Comeback for the Kites
Starting the day at the bottom of the leaderboard, the Kites pulled off a remarkable comeback by defeating the Falcons 24-19 to secure the second spot with 58 points. They will face the AOS Eagles in the finals, who clinched the top position with a 22-12 victory over the VB Realty Hawks, finishing with 65 points.
Farewell for Rohan Bopanna
In an emotional farewell on home soil, India’s Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna, playing for the Falcons, joined forces with Medvedev in a high-stakes men’s doubles match against Nick Kyrgios and Suresh. The duo of Medvedev and Bopanna triumphed with a close 7-6 victory.
Highlighting Indian Talent
The World Tennis League, in its inaugural season in India, has showcased some of the sport’s biggest stars in Bengaluru. However, it was Indian players like Sumit Nagal, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, and Dhakshineswar Suresh who captivated the crowd on the third competition day at the SM Krishna Stadium.
Mixed Doubles Showdown
Tennis power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina opened the Friday matches, with Monfils and Svitolina facing off as opponents. In an entertaining mixed doubles contest, Svitolina teamed up with Yuki Bhambri for the Hawks and managed to edge past Monfils and Shrivalli with a 6-4 scoreline.
Dominant Performance by Nagal
In the men’s singles event, India’s leading singles player Nagal delivered a commanding performance against former Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov, winning decisively 6-1 and providing his team with crucial momentum.
Shrivalli Shines
After cheering from the sidelines on the first two days, Shrivalli stepped into the spotlight with confidence. She showcased her skills in the mixed doubles and then faced off against rising star Maaya, who trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy. Shrivalli found her rhythm quickly, impressing the Bengaluru audience with her precision to secure a 6-2 victory against the 16-year-old.
Shrivalli later paired with Paula Badosa, winning against the Svitolina-Maaya combination 6-3. Post-match, Badosa expressed her admiration for her young partner.
“India, you have a future star here,” Badosa, a semi-finalist at this year’s Australian Open, told the crowd. “She carried the team today. Since the first day I hit with her, I have been impressed with her serve and aggressive game.”
Kites’ Winning Start
In the day’s second match, Marta Kostyuk set a positive tone for the Kites by defeating Magda Linette 6-4. The Kites won three of the four sets on Friday, edging past the Falcons and Hawks to secure a place in the final.
Following a round-robin stage where every team faced each other in four set matches, the AOS Eagles and Aussie Mavericks Kites emerged victorious, setting the stage for the final encounter of WTL’s India debut.