"More Challenger Events Will Help Indian Tennis Reach New Heights" - Bengaluru Open Tournament Director Sunil Yajaman | Exclusive

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Bengaluru, Mar 3: The 2025 DafaNews Bengaluru Open concluded on March 2 with American Brandon Holt scripting history by becoming the first-ever American champion at the tournament.

Holt clinched his second ATP Challenger title of the season with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki in the singles final. Meanwhile, in the doubles event, India's Anirudh Chandrasekar and Taiwan's Ray Ho lived up to their top-seed billing, defeating Australia's Blake Bayldon and Matthew Christopher Romios 6-2, 6-4 to claim the title.

As the curtain fell on the ninth edition of India's biggest ATP Challenger event, Tournament Director Sunil Yajaman reflected on the success of the tournament, the state of tennis in Karnataka, and the broader challenges Indian tennis faces.

In an exclusive interaction with myKhel, he spoke about Bengaluru's rich sporting culture, the urgent need for more ATP Challenger tournaments in India, the rise of pickleball, and the role of coaching in shaping the next generation of Indian tennis players.

Bengaluru: A Tennis Hotspot in India

Bengaluru has long been regarded as a sporting hub, and according to Yajaman, tennis has played a significant role in that legacy. "I grew up in Bengaluru, and I've seen first-hand how tennis has evolved here," Yajaman said.

"Earlier, the sport was mostly confined to private clubs, but now we see courts in schools, apartment complexes, and public spaces. Bengaluru probably has the highest number of tennis academies in the country, which shows how much the game has grown here," he added.

Yajaman attributes this success to three key factors: Bengaluru's year-round favourable weather, a strong tennis culture, and a history of producing top players.

Need for More ATP Challenger Tournaments in India

Yajaman firmly believes that hosting more ATP Challenger events across India is crucial for the development of Indian players. "Right now, Indian players have to travel abroad to earn ranking points, which is both expensive and exhausting. If we could host at least 40-50 weeks of ITF and Challenger tournaments across the country, our players could reach a ranking of 200 without even stepping outside India. That would save a huge amount of money and allow them to focus on their game," he stated further.

According to him, these tournaments provide a platform for Indian players to gain international experience without the financial burden of constant overseas travel.

Wild Cards: A Game-Changer for Indian Players

Yajaman also stressed the importance of wild card entries in helping young Indian players gain exposure. He said, "A wild card can change a player's career overnight. We recently gave wild cards to deserving Indian players in an ITF 100K women's event, even if they weren't from Karnataka. The goal should always be to promote national talent, and we've seen many instances where a single wild card entry has propelled a player into the professional circuit."

Addressing the Accessibility and Coaching Gaps in Indian Tennis

Tennis remains an expensive sport, but Yajaman believes that increased public infrastructure could help bridge the gap. "Historically, tennis was considered an elite sport, but now we see courts in more accessible places. The next step is to ensure every district in India has a multi-sport complex with low-cost training. This would be a game-changer," the KSLTA official remarked.

He also highlighted the need for better grassroots coaching, "We need structured coaching similar to education. Just like we have teachers for different grade levels, tennis needs specialised coaches for beginners, intermediates, and advanced players. If we focus on early-stage technique, we'll have a stronger foundation for Indian tennis."

The Growing Popularity of Pickleball: A Threat or an Opportunity

With pickleball gaining popularity, many wonder if it could overshadow tennis. However, Yajaman dismisses the idea that the two sports are in competition. "Pickleball is great for introducing people to racket sports, and it might even push some towards tennis. The more people playing sports, the better - it's a win-win for everyone."

The Future of Tennis in Karnataka and India

Looking ahead, Yajaman is optimistic about the future of tennis in Karnataka and India. He added further, "We are expanding tennis beyond Bengaluru. Right now, 12 districts are involved, and we plan to add 10 more. We're also setting up a regional training center in Kalaburagi to make tennis accessible to rural kids. The next 5-10 years could be huge for Indian tennis."

Sponsorship Challenges and the Bengaluru Open's Growing Prestige

Despite the financial challenges that Indian tennis faces, Yajaman is proud of how the Bengaluru Open has established itself as a world-class tournament.

"When we started in 2015, we had very few sponsors, and we were probably running at a loss. But we remained committed to delivering a high-quality event. Over time, the Bengaluru Open has built a strong reputation, and now it's one of the premier ATP Challenger events in Asia," Yajaman added further.

As Sunil Yajaman pointed out, the road ahead for Indian tennis looks promising-provided the country invests in more Challenger tournaments, improves accessibility, and strengthens grassroots coaching. With continued efforts in these areas, Indian tennis could soon see multiple players breaking into the top 100 and competing on the biggest global stages.