By Admin 
Shrivalli Bhamidipaty made heads turn with persistent wins, five in five singles matches, in India’s progress to the World Group play-off in the Billie Jean King Cup women’s tennis championship in Pune recently.
Playing in the team competition at home for the first time, the 23-year-old Shrivalli had a hand in five of the nine matches that India won in this campaign. The side’s two singles triumphs came courtesy of Vaidehi Chaudhari who stepped in for first-choice Sahaja Yamalapalli, who had to retire in the third set of her second singles match against world No. 105 Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand.
India’s campaign was delicately placed before its last tie against Korea. Captain Vishal Uppal played his cards well, bringing back Sahaja in place of Vaidehi. This meant Shrivalli was back to take on the No. 2 side after winning two of her games against the Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei’s top-ranked players Hong Yi Cody Wong and Joanna Garland, respectively.
The fixture that followed – between Shrivalli and Korea’s Sohyun Park – was a three-hour blockbuster which ended up being a great endorsement for the health of Asian women’s tennis. The 23-year-old Indian ground out an incredible 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) victory.
Confidence personified
Over the years, Shrivalli has been known for her dynamism as a player who could serve and stroke with authority and belt the ball fiercely but in short spells. The ability to stay focused and get the work done was invariably missing, especially against high-quality opponents.
Thus, it was a revelation that Shrivalli kept hammering the winners, and stayed focused for three hours against the Korean who threw everything at her. This gripping contest was easily among the highlights of the six-team tournament.
Shrivalli.
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Special Arrangement
Shrivalli was confidence-personified in her come-from-behind victory against the 22-year-old Park, who had grown quite comfortable with the conditions, having won a tournament in India earlier this season.
“I was quite thrilled to have won all my matches and very happy with my contribution in India’s qualification for the World Group playoff, only for the second time in history. It is a magical feeling. And I am proud of our performance,” Shrivalli told The Hindu.
She was quick to credit the squad for a successful team effort.
“Playing for the country on home soil was an unforgettable experience, filled with emotion,” she said while fighting tears following her win against New Zealand’s Aishi Das in the first tie. Her composure grew after that victory, and Shrivalli climbed into a zone where there was no room for emotion.
“I am thankful to captain Vishal Uppal sir, coach Radhika Tulpule for their belief and guidance, and my teammates Ankita [Raina], Prarthana [Thombare], Sahaja [Yamalapalli], Vaidehi [Chaudhari], and Maaya [Rajeshwaran] for their support,” said Shrivlali.
Ankita and Prarthana sealed victory for India in that tie against Korea by winning the decisive doubles against Sohyun Park and Kim Dabin in straight sets.
Shrivalli.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
In the tournament’s 2024 iteration in China, the chance to progress in the competition was within India’s reach until its campaign came undone in the last rubber against New Zealand, where India, led then by Asian Games mixed doubles gold medallist Rutuja Bhosale and captained by Shalini Thakur Chawla, conceded defeat.
Eventually, three teams were tied in second place with three wins and two losses behind China, which had won everything. Korea had progressed then, by virtue of a better proportion of matches, having won 11 out of 15, as against India’s eight wins and New Zealand’s seven triumphs.
This time around, Ankita – the top-ranked Indian woman in singles – bought into captain Vishal’s plans of keeping his experienced doubles team fresh for their fixtures and happily played her part in the doubles team with Prarthana for the all the five ties against New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Korea.
Ankita and Prarthana won two of the five matches, with the other crucial victory coming against Thailand. Against Hong Kong and Taipei, India was 2-0 up in singles, and thus the doubles matches were not that significant. Lulu Sun and Monique Barry had been strong for New Zealand against the Indian pair, which ultimately helped the Kiwis progress to the playoffs as the first team before India secured its spot
Do or die
“After losing the first tie to New Zealand, every match was a do-or-die situation for us. We all focused on our game plan as discussed in team meetings. All the teammates bonded well and supported each other, working hard to stay focused and motivated throughout the tournament,” recalled Shrivalli.
While she credited a six-day preparatory camp for India’s gains on the tennis court, what was perhaps even more important was remaining focussed and calm under pressure.
“Meditation helped me to stay calm and focused. Vishal sir’s guidance, Radhika, the other team members, and the physios Apurva Kulkarni and Rutuja Kulkarni, were constantly encouraging (us) with their cheering and motivation on court. On top of it, the spectators chanting ‘India, India, India’ helped me fight harder. It was a very proud moment for all of us to be part of the historic moment for Indian tennis,” she exclaimed.
It took Shrivalli a few days to come to terms with the gravity of what this bunch had achieved.
“Qualifying was a magical and emotional moment for all of us. It was huge for Indian tennis. It took more than a day to sink in. I am honoured and thrilled to be a part of this team, making history for the second time,” she said.
“The camp helped the team to bond well and train hard. Both the captain and coach made us work hard to gain that competitive edge, refine our skills, and prepare for the demands of the big tournament. A huge shout out to the team physios, Apurva and Rutuja, for keeping us match fit throughout the two weeks.”
The next step
Will this experience see Shrivalli climb to a different level in the professional circuit in the forthcoming tournaments?
“Why not? I have realised that discipline, dedication, and consistency are crucial. I need to focus on the overall development of the game, mental strength, and physical conditioning. Need to develop strategies for different surfaces and opponents, and learn from setbacks and mistakes,” said Shrivalli.
Interestingly, Vishal has been guiding Shrivalli on the professional circuit for quite some time, but she could see a different side, that of an astute tactician, while playing under his leadership for the first time.
“Vishal sir is an excellent and shrewd captain. He understands the game. More importantly, he knows how to get the best out of his players. He bonded with the team and impressed upon us the value of drawing inspiration rather than pressure when playing for our country. His positive talks during meetings and advice, to fight for all those girls including ourselves who need the support, brought the best out of the team,” said Shrivalli.
But one can only take the horse to water. Shrivalli’s success lay in her ability to remain in attack mode without getting carried away or getting bogged down by inevitable errors.
“I believe, risk hai toh ishq hai (when there is risk there is love). I love the challenge of balancing solid defensive play with aggressive attacking shots. It is a delicate balance, but when executed well, it can be very effective,” she explained.
Shrivalli’s fitness and mobility were phenomenal during the BJK Cup, something she has been working on alongside developing mental toughness and a strategic thought process.
“My revised approach is to improve specific skills and work on consistency. I want to reach the top 200 in the rankings. I will work out a plan with my team to develop a strategy to achieve these goals,” she said.
While her BJK exploits should be a shot in the arm for a youngster aiming for the stars, the realities of her results in the professional circuit demand more blood, sweat, and tears should she hope to progress. Shrivalli has won only five singles matches in eight tournaments this year, with six of those events happening on home soil.
With plenty of frontiers to conquer, the world is Shrivalli’s oyster, and she is just getting started.
Published – May 16, 2025 12:01 pm IST