Team India confirmed their playoff berth in the Billie Jean King Cup 2025, after bagging second place at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1. The hosts progressed to the next round after registering a 2-1 win against Korea Republic in their final game of the tournament at the Mahalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex on Saturday in Pune.
This is only the second time that India have qualified for the playoffs of the Billie Jean King Cup, previously doing so in 2020. Along with the hosts, it was New Zealand who secured top spot at the tournament organized by MSLTA in association with ITF, AITA, and PMDTA.
It was a dream debut at the Billie Jean King Cup for Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, as she maintained her unblemished record in the tournament. Playing against 248-ranked, Sohyun Park, Shrivalli surrendered a hard-fought first set, before taking charge to storm a comeback. The youngster from Hyderabad registered her fifth consecutive win, sealing the deal with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Heading into the second singles match with a one-nil lead for India, Sahaja Yamalapalli took centre court to play against Dayeon Back. The Indian player showed resolve and determination despite suffering an early setback in both sets. Trailing 1-5 in the second set, Sahaja fought till the end but eventually fell short by a scoreline of 3-6, 4-6, in an hour and 45 minutes.
With all to play for and a playoff spot at stake, India’s vastly experienced doubles duo of Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare stepped up when it mattered most, helping the team over the line against Sohyun Park and Dabin Kim. The Indian duo held their nerve, making sure they complement each other at the net and baseline, finding the right angles to help them secure a 6-4, 6-3 victory in an hour and 15 minutes.
The Indian team, sponsored by Suhana, will now move to the playoffs of the Billie Jean King Cup 2025, and will play alongside the best-performing teams from the 2025 Regional Group I events. The Play-offs will be contested as groups of three teams, with the group winners advancing to the 2026 Qualifiers.
The tournament was powered by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare (Maharashtra). Other partners for the tournament include Bisleri, Shiv-Naresh, Manipal Hospitals, Eco Factory Foundation and Dunlop.
MSLTA - The Driving Force Behind the Event
MSLTA (Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association) has been a driving force behind the tournament and has made efforts to popularise the sport in the state and country by conducting many International tournaments.
MSLTA Honorary Secretary Sunder Iyer |
“The job of any state federation is to support and create opportunities for players from their own states, but MSLTA is in a different league. We have always done international tournaments to promote both Indian players and international players. We have done many tournaments like this over the last decade," Sunder Iyer, Hon Secretary MSLTA said.
In 2025 itself, MSLTA have organised three major events in the world of tennis. L&T Mumbai Open, a WTA 250 event was conducted in February which was followed by ATP Challenger 100 Maha Open 2025 and now the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup.
“We know every player, we have been supporting them through different foundations like Lakshya. I thought it was important for us to have this Billie Jean King Cup in India so we bid for it about six or seven months ago through ITA. So that's how this year we did three big events back to back,” explained Sunder Iyer.
In 2023, Sunder Iyer, who is also part of Lakshya Sports foundation, launched a Junior Grand Slam Project through which he supported teenage sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran and many more young tennis talents.
“At MSLTA, we believe that apart from our players, Indian tennis also needs to be grown and thanks to a very good team, we are able to do something more than the other federations. When I realized that in the last five years there have been no junior players in the Grand Slams, we launched this Grand Slam project along with a company called Amalgam Steel who supported the project,” he said.
About the success of Billie Jean King Cup, Sunder Iyer said, “I am really thrilled with the way everything turned out because India is known for its hospitality and I think it is time to show the world that we are also there as a sporting superpower.”
“We are not cutting corners. We are ensuring that we are hosting a world class event. We have left no stone unturned to ensure that this tournament and all the facilities are world class. The players do not have anything to complain about during their time here. I am really happy that we thought and were able to put all this together,” he concluded.
Other Results:
Thailand 2-1 Chinese Taipei
Lanlana Tararudee (THA) bt Fang An Lin (TPE): 6-3, 6-3 (1h 19 mins)
Joanna Garland (TPE) bt Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA): 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 (2h 31 mins)
Patcharin Cheapchandej and Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) beat Yi Tsen Cho and Fang An Lin (TPE): 6-1, 6-2 (1h 1min)
New Zealand 1-2 Hong Kong, China
Man Ying Maggie Ng (HGK) bt Sasha Situe (NZL): 6-2, 6-3 (1hr 23 mins)
Aishi Das (NZL) bt Eudice Chong: 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 (1h 42 mins)
Hong Yi Cody Wong and Eudice Chong (HKG) bt Aishi Das and Monique Barry (NZL): 6-0, 6-2
