Bengaluru: In a landmark moment for Indian tennis, the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) will host the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs for the first time on Indian soil. The Group G ties of the international women’s tennis tournament will be held at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru on July 14, 15, and 16.
This historic edition will see 21 nations competing across seven groups, each consisting of three teams. Under the tournament’s unique structure, each group tie will be hosted by a participating nation. The venues were officially confirmed after a draw held on Thursday in London.
India’s qualification for the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs marks only the second time in its history that the nation has advanced to this stage. The Indian team earned its place after an impressive campaign in the Asia/Oceania Group I tie held in Pune, where it defeated Korea 2-1 and finished with four wins — tied with New Zealand — in the six-team competition. India previously reached the playoffs in April 2021, when it travelled to Latvia and lost 3-1 to a team led by Jelena Ostapenko.
India will face Slovenia and the Netherlands in Group G. The five-member Indian squad includes the country's top-ranked singles player Ankita Raina (ranked 292), Sahaja Yamalapalli (301), Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (313), Vaidehi Chaudhari (405), and top doubles player Prarthana Thombare, who holds a world ranking of 136.
In the other groups, Canada, Mexico, and Denmark make up Group A; Poland, New Zealand, and Romania are in Group B; Slovakia, Switzerland, and Argentina form Group C; Czechia, Colombia, and Croatia are in Group D; Australia, Portugal, and Brazil are grouped in E; while Germany, Belgium, and Turkiye are in Group F.
The KSLTA has long been a key player in bringing global tennis to India, having previously hosted Davis Cup ties, the ATP World Doubles Championship, WTA Tour events, ITF Women’s \$100K tournaments, ATP Challengers, and ITF World Tennis Tour events. Hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs marks another milestone in the organisation’s mission to promote world-class tennis in the country.
The decision to bid for the event came soon after India’s qualification, driven by the KSLTA’s vision of offering valuable exposure to young players and growing the sport’s popularity across the country.
“Hosting the prestigious BJK Cup Playoffs at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium will be a historic moment for us at KSLTA, and we believe it will elevate India’s profile in global women’s tennis. It has always been our aim to bring top international tennis to Bengaluru, and with world-class facilities in place, we’re well-prepared to stage an event of this scale,” said Priyank Kharge, Senior Vice President of KSLTA and Minister of IT, BT and RDPR, Government of Karnataka.
Tournament Director and KSLTA Joint Secretary Sunil Yajaman expressed enthusiasm about India’s qualification and the opportunity to host. “We were absolutely thrilled when India made it to the playoffs. A home tie could be a major boost for the sport, particularly at the grassroots level, and can inspire the next generation of players,” he said.
“We are honoured to be selected as one of the host nations and look forward to welcoming international players and officials to Bengaluru. This is a rare chance for local sports fans to witness a prestigious global event, and we’re confident that our team, being well-adapted to home conditions, will perform at its best. We are grateful to the International Tennis Federation for entrusting us with this opportunity,” Yajaman added.
With IANS inputs