Bengaluru, Feb 18 (.) Missed set point. Immediate redemption ace. Straight-sets win. The Indian charge gathered momentum at the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026 as Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty produced a statement victory to storm into the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
Playing at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, Shrivalli edged past Malta’s Francesca Curmi 7-6(6), 6-4 in a contest defined by nerve, resilience and timely aggression.
The defining moment came in the first-set tie-break. After manoeuvring Curmi across the baseline, Shrivalli earned a set point but squandered it with an unforced error.
For a brief second, momentum appeared to tilt. What followed, however, underlined her temperament. She stepped up and unleashed a clean ace to seize control again, before closing out the breaker — a sequence that flipped pressure into dominance in a matter of seconds.
That instant redemption set the tone.
The opening set had been a tug-of-war, with Curmi breaking early and engaging in extended baseline exchanges. Shrivalli repeatedly clawed her way back, breaking in the eighth game to restore parity and force the tie-break. From there, the psychological edge shifted decisively in the Indian’s favour.
In the second set, she struck early with a break and began dictating rallies with greater authority. As the match wore on, Curmi showed signs of fatigue, and another break in the seventh game pushed Shrivalli within touching distance of victory. Though Curmi briefly delayed the inevitable with a break back, Shrivalli kept her composure to close out the contest 6-4.
The win not only sent her into the last 16 but reinforced a broader narrative unfolding in Bengaluru — India’s growing presence in the draw. With Sahaja Yamlapali and Vaishnavi Adkar also advancing, the home contingent has injected fresh energy into the tournament.
Top seed Talia Gibson, third seed Hanne Vandewinkel and second seed Lanlana Tararudee also progressed, but it was Shrivalli’s clutch moment under pressure that defined the day’s action.
From a missed opportunity to an immediate ace of defiance, the swing of a few points captured the spirit of the afternoon — a young Indian holding her nerve and keeping the home charge alive. . . KK