TPL 2025: SG Pipers, Rajasthan Rangers start campaign with victories

The opening day of the 2025 Tennis Premier League served up a series of well-contested games at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium.

Taking place in Ahmedabad for the first time, the likes of Rohan Bopanna, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Luciano Darderi put on a show for the fans. The matches took place on a charcoal-colored court and saw all eight teams being a part of the action on Tuesday.

SG Pipers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Rangers, GS Delhi Aces and Chennai Smashers began their campaign with wins on the opening day of the tournament.

SG Pipers and Gurgaon Grand Slammers took centre stage in the first match of the season with Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty playing the opening game.

Shrivalli Bhamidipaty gave SG Pipers the ideal start with a 18-7 win the Women’s Singles encounter.

She then teamed up with Rohan Bopanna in the Mixed Doubles category, continuing her winning run with a hard-fought 14-11 victory against Sahaja and Sriram Balaji.

In the Men’s Singles category, Dan Evans pulled things back for Gurgaon Grand Slammers with a 16-9 win against Ramkumar Ramnathan.

In the Men’s Doubles category, SG Pipers Bengaluru prevailed courtesy the duo of Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramnathan, winning 15-10 against Sriram Balaji and Dan Evans.

With that win, SG Pipers Bengaluru began their campaign with a 56-44 victory.

Defending champions Hyderabad Strikers took the court to face Rajasthan Rangers in the second game. Carole Monnet got the Strikers off to a winning start with an 18-7 win against Ekaterina Kazionova in the Women’s Singles category.

Ekaterina Kazionova and Dhakshineswar Suresh clinched the Mixed Doubles game for Rajashtan Rangers, winning 13-12 against Carole Monnet and Vishnu Vardhan.

In the Men’s Singles category, Luciano Darderi (ranked number 26 in the world) won 15-10 against Pedro Martinez to mount Rajasthan Rangers’ fightback.

Luciano Darderi and Dhakshineswar Suresh won 17-8 against Vishnu Vardhan and Pedro Martinez, helping Rajasthan Rangers secure a close 52-48 win.

GS Delhi Aces and Yash Mumbai Eagles locked horns in the third match of the day.

In the Women’s Singles category, Sofia Costoulas powered them to a 16-9 win against Riya Bhatia. The pairing of Riya Bhatia and Niki Poonacha helped Yash Mumbai Eagles register a 15-10 win against Sofia Costoulas and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan in the Mixed Doubles category.

In the Men’s Singles, Billy Harris secured a 15-10 victory against Damir Dzumhur. In the Mixed Doubles, Damir Dzumhur and Niki Poonacha won 14-11 against Billy Harris and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan.

However, in the end, GS Delhi Aces prevailed 52-48 in a hard-fought contest.

In the last game of the day, Chennai Smashers took on the home side, Gujarat Panthers.

Chennai Smashers’ Irina Bara prevailed 15-10 against Nuria Brancaccio in the Women’s Singles game. In the Mixed Doubles, Nuria Brancaccio and Anirudh Chandrasekar won 13-12 against Irina Bara and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli.

Dalibor Svrcina delivered a commanding performance in the Men’s Singles, winning 17-8 against Alexandre Müller. In the Men’s Doubles, the pair of Dalibor Svrcina and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli clinched a narrow 13-12 win against Alexandre Müller and Anirudh Chandrasekar, resulting in a comprehensive 57-43 win for the Chennai Smashers.