Bengaluru, Feb 19 (.) It was a day of drama, determination, and emerging talent for India at the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026, with the nation’s young stars taking centre stage.
Vaishnavi Adkar and Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty showcased courage and skill, while Sahaja Yamalapalli faced the stern test of a top seed, giving fans a glimpse of India’s growing presence in women’s tennis.
Vaishnavi Adkar was the headline act. Facing eighth seed Mai Hontama of Japan, Adkar got off to a rocky start, dropping the first set 2-6 as her opponent dictated play with depth and precision. But the 21-year-old refused to be intimidated.
She raised her intensity in the second set, stepping inside the baseline, hitting aggressive returns, and forcing Hontama into errors. An early break in the second game gave Adkar momentum, and she quickly surged to a 3-0 lead. Even when Hontama fought back to 3-2, Adkar’s composure never wavered, and she broke again to take the set 6-4.
The decider was a rollercoaster of nerve and precision. Hontama struck first with an early break, but Adkar immediately retaliated. Both players exchanged breaks in the middle of the set, pushing each other to the limits.
In a tense tie-break, Hontama surged to 5-2, but Adkar hit back with ferocious forehands and remarkable mental strength. At 9-8, Hontama sent a backhand into the net, giving Adkar a thrilling 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) victory and a spot in the quarterfinals against fourth seed Taylah Preston (AUS).
Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty also impressed with her courage in a three-set Round of 16 encounter against Belgium’s third seed Hanne Vandewinkel. Shrivalli pushed Vandewinkel hard, saving match points and trading long, intense rallies.
In the end, the Belgian prevailed 6-2, 6-7, 6-1, but Shrivalli’s fighting spirit and composure under pressure left a strong impression, highlighting the potential of India’s next generation of tennis players.
Sahaja Yamalapalli faced a difficult challenge against top seed Talia Gibson (AUS). The Australian dominated with deep, accurate groundstrokes and strategic drop shots, wrapping up the match 6-0, 6-0. Though Yamalapalli fell short, the experience against a world-class opponent offered invaluable lessons for her development.
Other seeded players advancing to the next round included Polina Iatcenko (ROU), Lanlana Tararudee (THA), Taylah Preston (AUS), Elena Pridankina (NED), and Fangran Tian (CHN), setting up an exciting quarterfinal stage.
For India, it was a day of contrasting fortunes — a breakthrough win for Adkar, a valiant display from Shrivalli, and lessons learned for Yamalapalli. Together, their performances underscored the resilience, talent, and promise of Indian women’s tennis on the international stage.
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