India Gears Up for Billie Jean King Cup 2025 in Pune

Billie Jean King Cup 2025 Set to Begin in Pune

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April 7: The Billie Jean King Cup 2025 Asia-Oceania Group-1 is ready to kick off, hosted by India in collaboration with AITA and PMDTA. The tournament will take place starting April 8 at the Mhalunge Balewadi tennis complex in Pune.

The Indian squad will compete against teams from New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Korea Republic, Thailand, and Hong Kong, China, in a round-robin format. The top two teams will progress to the playoff stage of the tournament.

"Everyone is excited about the tournament, and I believe we are well-prepared. The team is bonding nicely, and we are eager to begin. I advise the younger players to remember they are representing the country. This is a dream for many, so give your best and enjoy every moment. Don't stress about the outcome," stated Ankita Raina, India's leading singles player, as per the Billie Jean King Cup press release.

Leading the Indian team is Ankita Raina, joined by Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaidehi Chaudhari, and experienced doubles player Prarthana Thombare. The team also includes 15-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran as a reserve player. Vishal Uppal will serve as the team captain, with Radhika Kanitkar Tulpule as the coach.

"We all understand our roles within the team, which has been a significant advantage. The seniors provide valuable advice based on their extensive experience. We are looking forward to strong competition, and I believe we have a solid team," remarked Shrivalli Bhamidipaty.

In addition to the Indian team, attention will be on Lulu Sun from New Zealand, the tournament's top-ranked singles player. Currently ranked World No. 45, Lulu has secured seven singles and four doubles titles in the ITF Circuit. In 2024, she made history as the first woman from New Zealand to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Another player to watch is Wu Fang-Hsien from Chinese Taipei, ranked World No. 30 in doubles, who has recently won consecutive titles at the Auckland Open and Hobart International.

India aims to secure a playoff spot for only the second time in the tournament's history, having narrowly missed out in the previous edition. The team's best performance was in 2020 when Sania Mirza made a remarkable return, helping India qualify for the playoffs. India finished second in the Asia-Oceania Pool stage with four wins out of five matches but lost to Latvia 3-1 in their first playoff match.

The tournament will commence with India facing New Zealand on the opening day at Centre Court. Meanwhile, Korea Republic will compete against Chinese Taipei, and Thailand will take on Hong Kong, China on Courts 1 and 2.

The Billie Jean King Cup 2025 will feature a grand opening ceremony at 2:00 PM, showcasing captivating performances and special guest appearances. The event will be inaugurated by former Fed Cup players and members of MSLTA and PDMTA.

"The Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association is thrilled to host the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 games in Pune," expressed Sunder Iyer, Tournament Director and Secretary of MSLTA. "This marks a historic moment for Pune, as it hosts the BKJC for the first time in its century-long tennis history. We at AITA bid for the BKJ Cup to ensure our girls play at home rather than abroad. The local weather, food, and public support should give them a home advantage, and we hope they make the most of it," he added.

"We at MSLTA have made extensive preparations for this tournament, ensuring players have a fantastic experience and fans can enjoy thrilling tennis. Entry is free for tennis players from the city, state, and country, and we hope to see the best players entertain everyone," he concluded.

The tournament is supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare (Maharashtra), with partners including Bisleri, Shiv-Naresh, Manipal Hospitals, Eco Factory Foundation, and Dunlop.

Indian squad for Billie Jean King Cup:

Players – Ankita Raina, Prarthana Thombare, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaidehi Chaudhari, Maaya Rajeshwaran (Reserve)

Captain – Vishal Uppal

Coach – Radhika Kanitkar Tulpule

Physios - Rutuja Kulkarni and Apurva Kulkarni.