Indian tennis players will get an invaluable learning experience when the World Tennis League (WTL) gets underway here on Wednesday, bringing some of the biggest names in the sport to Indian courts for the first time.
The four-day event, now in its fourth edition, marks the tournament’s debut in India and promises a unique blend of competition and collaboration. Former US Open champion and one-time world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev headlines the line-up, alongside a strong cast of international stars.
Seasoned Indian professionals Sumit Nagal, D Suresh, Ankita Raina and Sahaja Yamalapalli are part of the league and are expected to benefit from close interaction with top-ranked players. For them, the league presents an opportunity not just to compete, but to exchange ideas and gain insights from athletes who have succeeded at the highest level.
The platform is equally significant for emerging talents Shrivalli Bhamdipaty and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, who will look to soak in the experience as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Medvedev, currently ranked 13th in the world, will be joined by world No. 23 Denis Shapovalov and world No. 67 Gael Monfils. One of the biggest crowd-pullers is expected to be Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, whose ranking has slipped to 652 following prolonged injury troubles that limited his appearances in 2023 and 2024.
Despite fitness concerns, Kyrgios remains a major draw, especially after voicing his ambition to return to top-level tennis and target the Australian Open in 2026. Fans will be eager to see if flashes of his trademark flair resurface during the league.
The women’s competition is equally strong, with world No. 14 Elina Svitolina leading the field. She will be joined by Paula Badosa (No. 25) and Marta Kostyuk (No. 26), the latter having reached the fourth round of this year’s US Open.
The league features four teams — Hawks, Falcons, Kites and Eagles — each comprising two men and two women players. Matches will be played in a round-robin format, with each tie consisting of four sets and points awarded for every game won.
If the team winning the final set trails on total games, the tie will extend into overtime. In the event of an overall deadlock, a first-to-10 super shootout tie-break will determine the winner. The top two teams after the league stage will progress to Saturday’s final.
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