Bengaluru, Nov 12: India's top-ranked women's singles tennis player Sahaja Yamalapalli is poised for one of the most important weeks of her career as she prepares to lead India's charge in the , to be held in Bengaluru from November 14 to 16.
For the first time in history, India will host the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs - a major milestone for women's tennis in the country. The ties will be played at the S M Krishna Tennis Stadium, under the aegis of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA).
Adding a technological edge to the event, KSLTA confirmed that this year's competition will feature no line umpires, with Hawk-Eye cameras and an electronic line judge system to be used instead. "We will use Hawk-Eye cameras and electronic line judge instead of
line umpires," a KSLTA official informed myKhel.
Yamalapalli enters the event after an impressive run at the WTA 125K Abierto Tampico, where she produced one of the biggest wins of her career - a straight-sets victory over former US Open champion Sloane Stephens - before bowing out in a gritty three-set loss to World No.125 Petra Marcinko. Currently ranked World No. 309, she remains India's top-ranked player on the WTA circuit.
At the recently concluded Chennai Open, Yamalapalli made the most of her wildcard entry, recording her first-ever main-draw victory on the WTA Tour. She began with an impressive straight-sets win over Indonesia's lucky loser Priska Nugroho, 6-4, 6-2, in the opening round. In the second round, she faced third seed and 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekić of Croatia, going down 2-6, 2-6. The tournament marked a historic moment for Indian tennis, as two Indian women - Yamalapalli and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty - reached the second round of a WTA singles event for the first time in 19 years.
In an exclusive conversation with myKhel, the Hyderabad-born athlete spoke about the pride of representing India, journey - from the U.S. collegiate system to professional tennis, steady rise through self-belief, hard work, and persistence. Yamalapalli also spoke about her evolution, her excitement for the Billie Jean King Cup, and her reflections on the state of Indian tennis.
On representing India at the Billie Jean King Cup
For Sahaja, wearing India's colours is an emotional experience - a rare moment in a sport where players usually compete individually. "I'm really excited for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup ties in Bengaluru. It's always a special feeling to represent India - it's not something we get to do often in tennis. Usually, we travel and compete for ourselves, so to come together as a team with one goal and play for the country gives a completely different kind of energy and motivation. The atmosphere, the support from teammates, and the pride of wearing India on your back - it's something I truly look forward to," she stated.
Playing in front of home fans, she says, brings unmatched energy. The sense of unity and purpose adds another dimension to the usually solitary grind of tennis.
On Indian Tennis post-Sania Mirza era
With multiple grand slam winner and poster girl of tennis in India, Sania Mirza's retirement, Indian women's tennis stands at the threshold of a new era - one where players like Sahaja, Shrivalli, and Ankita Raina are aiming to carry the torch forward as the current batch is working its way up.
"I think we're a group that's growing and learning every season. I'd say we're beginning to live up to our potential. There's still a long way to go, but the mindset and belief are definitely changing in a positive direction. Everyone's pushing each other and working hard - that's what's important right now," the Telangana athlete added further.
While Yamalapalli's steady ascent is part of a larger shift - for the first time in years, four Indian women are now ranked inside the WTA Top 500, signaling broader competitiveness but there's still a lot of work to be done, both at individual, as well as organisational level.
"Yes, it's definitely a positive sign. Having more Indians inside the top 500 shows that our level as a group is rising. It's not just one player breaking through - it's a few of us pushing each other, which is very important. It creates healthy competition and belief that we can all make it higher. Of course, there's still a lot of work to be done in terms of structure and support, but it's encouraging to see this progress. "
That "structure and support" Sahaja mentions remain critical - particularly the lack of domestic WTA-level tournaments that limit ranking opportunities and exposure for Indian players.
Currently, India hosts only two WTA 125K events - the L&T Mumbai Open in February 2025 and the Chennai Open in October 2025. These are the only professional women's tournaments offering significant WTA ranking points in the country.
For Sahaja and others, having more such tournaments is crucial. It allows Indian players to compete against higher-ranked international athletes on home soil, accumulate ranking points, and build confidence without the burden of constant travel. As the sport grows, expanding this circuit could be pivotal to scaling up both performance and stature for Indian tennis.
On the tough transition from juniors to pros
Transitioning from junior to professional tennis remains one of the steepest learning curves for Indian players - a reality Sahaja knows first-hand.
"The transition from juniors to the pro level is tough for everyone - suddenly, you're playing experienced players who've been on tour for years. It's not just about tennis skills; it's about physicality, mentality, and learning to handle travel, losses, and pressure on your own.
I went through that phase too - there were times it was frustrating, but I learned to see losses as part of the process. Every match, even the tough ones, helped me understand what I needed to improve. I focused on growing rather than getting discouraged, and that shift really helped me stay consistent," she remarked.
That mindset - of treating every loss as a lesson - is what now defines her approach on the tour. Her recent results show that learning curve beginning to pay off.
On her U.S. collegiate tennis journey
A turning point in Sahaja's development came at Sam Houston State University in Texas (USA), where she majored in Food Science and Nutrition and won the Player of the Year Award - becoming only the second player in the university's history to earn the honour.
She further stated, "The US college system helped me a lot - it gave me time to mature, get physically stronger, and play a lot of matches without worrying about expenses. You also get access to great facilities, fitness programs, and structured competition, which is a big advantage. "
But it also has its challenges - balancing academics with tennis can be demanding, and the transition back to the pro tour after college is not easy. "You have to rebuild your ranking and adapt again to life on tour. Still, for me, it was a valuable experience that helped me grow both as a player and as a person," Sahaja adds.
Her collegiate experience provided a bridge between the protected environment of juniors and the competitive reality of the pro circuit - an experience she says many Indian players could benefit from.
On beating Sloane Stephens
Her biggest moment yet came last month, when she produced one of the shocks of the WTA season - defeating Sloane Stephens, a former World No.3 and US Open champion, 6-2, 6-2 in just 70 minutes.
She said, "That match was definitely a special one for me. Beating someone of Sloane's caliber - a Grand Slam champion - gave me a lot of belief. I played with freedom and focus that day, and it reminded me that I belong at that level. The next match against Petra Marcinko was a lesson in consistency and physicality - how every point matters and how important it is to sustain intensity for three sets. Those matches showed me what I'm capable of, but also what I need to keep improving. "
That win wasn't just symbolic - it was a statement of intent. It proved that Indian women's tennis can still produce players capable of competing - and winning - at elite levels.
On rankings and staying grounded
Despite her growing profile, Sahaja's perspective on rankings remains refreshingly balanced. "I try not to see it as pressure. For me, rankings are more of a reflection of progress - they tell you where you stand, but they don't define you. I focus on improving small things - fitness, decision-making, shot tolerance - and when I do that consistently, the ranking takes care of itself. Of course, it's nice to see the number go up, but my goal is long-term - to keep getting better, one match at a time," she added.
It's this grounded approach that allows her to stay focused amid the constant churn of points, travel, and expectations.
On goals and the bigger picture for Indian tennis
Looking ahead, Sahaja's focus remains on consistent improvement and lifting Indian women's tennis collectively. She stated, "Personally, I want to break into the top 200 and keep building on the momentum. I'm working on being more aggressive and consistent against higher-ranked players. "
"For Indian women's tennis, I think we're in a good phase - more players are traveling, competing internationally, and gaining exposure. The next step is to build a stronger support system at home - better infrastructure, more tournaments, and financial backing. With that, I believe we can have more players regularly competing at the top level," she elaborates further.
Her remarks double as both a personal mission statement and a roadmap for reform - one that calls for structural investment to sustain the current momentum.
On playing in front of home fans
For Sahaja, the upcoming week in Bengaluru will be more than just a tennis event - it will be an emotional homecoming. "It's going to be amazing! Playing at home, hearing the crowd cheer for you, feeling that energy - it's something I've missed. I can't wait to represent India and hopefully give the fans something to cheer about. There's no better motivation than that," she signed off.
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