The Tennis Premier League (TPL) held its Season 7 Player Auction in Mumbai on October 9, with Indian tennis icons Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, and Mahesh Bhupathi joining league co-founders Kunal Thakkur and Mrunal Jain for what turned out to be one of the most competitive auctions in the tournament’s history.
The new season — scheduled for December 9–14, 2025, at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium in Ahmedabad — promises to be a landmark edition, with franchises locking in top international names, rising Indian stars, and experienced doubles specialists.
Bopanna’s Bengaluru Bets Big on Shrivalli and Ramkumar
Led by doubles ace Rohan Bopanna, SG Pipers Bengaluru made strong moves, securing Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, India’s No. 2 singles player, for
₹8.6 lakh. Shrivalli is fresh off her stellar run in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1, where she played a key role in India’s qualification.
Bengaluru also roped in Ramkumar Ramanathan for ₹7.2 lakh, blending youth and experience in their squad for the 2025 campaign.
Hyderabad Strikers Bring Back Familiar Faces
Defending champions Hyderabad Strikers, led by Arthur Rinderknech (World No. 54), fought hard to sign French youngster Carole Monnet (World No. 205) for ₹10.6 lakh after a bidding war. The Strikers also retained their doubles stalwart Vishnu Vardhan for ₹6 lakh, maintaining a strong core as they look to defend their crown.
Delhi Aces Strengthen Their Squad Around Etcheverry
GS Delhi Aces, captained by Tomas Martin Etcheverry (World No. 58), went all-in for Belgium’s rising star Sofia Costoulas (World No. 168), landing her for ₹11 lakh after an intense bidding duel with Gujarat and Hyderabad.
They further bolstered their doubles strength by signing Jeevan Neduncheziyan for ₹6 lakh, ensuring depth across both singles and doubles formats.
Grand Slammers Splash on Sriram Balaji
The Gurgaon Grand Slammers, led by Frenchman Corentin Moutet (World No. 38), added depth with Nuria Parrizas Diaz (career-high No. 45) for ₹6 lakh. Their headline signing, however, was Sriram Balaji (World No. 78 in doubles), who fetched the maximum bid of ₹12 lakh, making him one of the joint costliest players of the auction.
Chennai Smashers Match the Top Bid
With Dalibor Svrcina (World No. 91) as their marquee name, the Chennai Smashers balanced their squad by signing Irina Bara for ₹6 lakh and matching the top bid of the night to grab doubles star Rithvik Bollipalli (World No. 71) for ₹12 lakh.
Mumbai Eagles Opt for Balance
Anchored by Damir Dzhumhur — the former World No. 23, now ranked 67 — the Yash Mumbai Eagles went for balance, signing Mariam Bolkvadze and Niki Poonacha, both for ₹6 lakh each. Their focus appeared to be on consistency and experience, building a steady, all-round unit.
Gujarat Panthers Flex in Home Season
The host franchise, Gujarat Panthers, led by Alexandre Muller (World No. 39), won a spirited bidding war to acquire Nuria Brancaccio for ₹10 lakh. They also picked up Anirudh Chandrasekhar (World No. 87 in doubles) for ₹7 lakh, strengthening their doubles bench ahead of their home campaign in Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan Rangers Land Darderi and Young Indian Talent
The Rajasthan Rangers, captained by Luciano Darderi (World No. 29) — the highest-ranked player in TPL Season 7 — made some smart buys. They signed Anastasia Gasanova at base price (₹6 lakh) and added 25-year-old Dhakshineswar Suresh for ₹7.5 lakh, jumping bids late to secure the promising Indian.
A Power-Packed Season Awaits
With global talent, emerging Indian stars, and tennis royalty watching from the front row, TPL Season 7 looks set to be the most competitive yet.
As the action shifts to Ahmedabad in December, all eyes will be on how these new-look squads gel in a league that continues to grow in stature and star power year after year.
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