On the main court at the Balewadi Tennis Stadium in Pune, Vaidehi Chaudhari and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty were busy hitting some practice shots. Meanwhile, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Sahaja Yamalapalli were picking up stray tennis balls and tossing them back. After a while, the four players switched roles. On the sidelines, Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare were getting into their warmup routines.

Dressed in matching blue t-shirts and sporting serious expressions, this relatively new group of Indian women tennis players gathered in Pune for the Billie Jean King Cup. In a sport that often emphasizes individual performance, they cherished their time together and were committed to supporting one another. They carried a significant burden of expectations.

For years, the Indian women's team has faced challenges in securing the wins necessary to advance beyond the Asia/Oceania Group 1 level in this prestigious tournament, often referred to as the World Cup of tennis. Their best achievement so far was reaching the playoffs in 2021.

However, the current team in Pune may lack extensive international experience, but it is filled with promising talent. This week, they have the opportunity to reach the playoffs once more, but team captain Vishal Uppal has set an even higher goal.

"We're not just aiming to qualify for the playoffs; we want to send a message that women's tennis is growing in India," he shared with HT. "It's important for Indian women's tennis to be taken more seriously. That’s the bigger objective—making that statement."

Starting April 8, India will face off in best-of-three matchups against New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Thailand in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the playoffs. This week, India enjoys the advantage of playing at home.

With Asian heavyweights China and Japan not in the mix (as they are participating in higher tiers of the event), this presents a great chance for the host nation to climb the ranks.

Leading the team is Ankita Raina, currently ranked No. 304 in the world and India's top player. At 32, she’s the only remaining member from the 2021 squad. A bronze medalist in singles at the 2018 Asian Games, Raina is known for her tenacity and willingness to engage in tough matches.

The second oldest player on the team is doubles expert Prarthana Thombare, who is 30. She competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and recently made it to the finals of a WTA125 event in Mumbai.

And then there’s the younger talent.

Sahaja, 24, and her younger teammate Shrivalli, who is 23, are part of a team that features players who excel at hitting hard from the baseline, moving swiftly, and playing an aggressive style of tennis. Chaudhari, a two-time national champion, fits this mold as well. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Maaya has made waves by reaching the semi-finals in Mumbai as an unranked player. Currently training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, this talented teen from Tamil Nadu brings a lot of skill and confidence to the court.

While each player has followed a different path, together they provide India with a level of depth in singles that hasn't been seen before.

"I'm really optimistic about this group," Uppal shared. "We have a lot more options and depth in singles than we used to. It's hard to compare different teams, but this lineup strikes a great balance between youth and experience. The younger players need to prove they're eager and capable of competing at this level."

Uppal, a former Davis Cup player for India, mentioned that his main concern is the players' consistency.

"It's all about how well we prepare and execute our strategies on the day," he noted. "I want to see more consistent performances. They've shown they can rise to the occasion."

On Tuesday, they'll be ready to compete as they face New Zealand in their first tie on the road to the playoffs.

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