Indian women's tennis depth faces home test

On centre court at the Balewadi Tennis Stadium here, Vaidehi Chaudhari and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty played a few practice points.

- Shahid Judge

PUNE: Behind them, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Sahaja Yamalapalli collected stray tennis balls and passed them back. After a few points, the quartet rotated. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare began their warm-up routines.

All dressed in identical blue t-shirts and matching stony expressions, assembled in Pune was this relatively inexperienced group of Indian women tennis players for the Billie Jean King Cup. In a sport known for its individuality, they were prizing those moments together and were looking to do whatever they could to help each other. Together, they carry a heavy weight of expectation.

For years, the Indian women's team has struggled to stitch together the wins needed to get to a stage above the Asia/Oceania Group 1 category in a competition dubbed the World Cup of tennis. The furthest they have gotten was playing in the playoffs in 2021.