Bengaluru, Dec 19 (NationPress) India’s Dhakshineswar Suresh, representing the Aussie Mavericks Kites, executed a stunning victory over Daniil Medvedev, the Grand Slam champion, clinching a 6-4 win in the decisive set to propel his team to the finals of the World Tennis League on Saturday.

The Kites, starting the day in last place, made an incredible turnaround by defeating the Falcons 24-19, securing the second position with 58 points. Their finals opponent will be the AOS Eagles, who triumphed over VB Realty Hawks 22-12, finishing first with 65 points.

Another highlight of the day was Rohan Bopanna, India’s Grand Slam champion, who bid an emotional farewell on home soil. Competing for the Falcons, he partnered with Medvedev in an exciting men’s doubles match against Nick Kyrgios and Suresh. In a thrilling encounter, Medvedev and Bopanna managed to secure a 7-6 victory.

During its inaugural season in India, the World Tennis League has attracted many of tennis’ elite stars to Bengaluru. However, it was the Indian talents like Sumit Nagal, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, and Dhakshineswar Suresh who captivated the audience on the third day of the event at the SM Krishna Stadium.

The event kicked off on Friday with tennis’ power duo, Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, featured in a mixed doubles match. This time, however, they faced off against each other. In an entertaining showdown, Svitolina and Yuki Bhambri, playing for the Hawks, narrowly defeated Monfils and Shrivalli 6-4.

India’s top singles player, Nagal, demonstrated his prowess with a commanding performance in the men’s singles, overpowering former Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov by a score of 6-1, which provided his team with crucial momentum.

Shrivalli, who had previously supported her team from the sidelines during the first two days, stepped into the limelight. Following a strong mixed doubles performance, the 24-year-old faced off against the rising star Maaya, who trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy. Shrivalli showcased her skills and thrilled the Bengaluru crowd, winning decisively 6-2.

Later, she paired up with Paula Badosa to secure a 6-3 win over the Svitolina-Maaya duo. Badosa praised her young partner, stating, “India, you have a future star here. She carried the team today. Since our first practice, I have been impressed with her serve and aggressive style.”

In the day’s second match, Marta Kostyuk provided the Kites with a strong start by defeating Magda Linette 6-4. The Kites won three out of four sets on Friday, edging past the Falcons and Hawks to secure their place in the final.

After a round-robin phase where each team faced off in four-set matches, the AOS Eagles and Aussie Mavericks Kites emerged as the top contenders, setting the stage for the final showdown of the WTL’s inaugural India season.