Mumbai, Oct 9 (NationPress) Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli achieved the top bids during the Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 7 Player Auction held in Mumbai on Thursday, featuring renowned tennis icons Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, and Mahesh Bhupathi among the attendees.

The auction was marked by fierce competition as franchises vied to build their teams for a significant season set to occur from December 9 to 14 at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The SG Pipers Bengaluru, under the leadership of Indian doubles icon Rohan Bopanna, secured Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, India’s second-ranked singles player and a key contributor to the country’s success in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I, for INR 8.60 lakh. They also acquired 30-year-old Ramkumar Ramanathan for INR 7.20 lakh, blending experience with emerging talent.

Defending champions Hyderabad Strikers, led by Arthur Rinderknech (World No. 54), brought in French talent Carole Monnet (World No. 205) for INR 10.60 lakh after a competitive bidding session. They also welcomed back their doubles star from last season, Vishnu Vardhan, for INR 6 lakh.

GS Delhi Aces, featuring marquee player Tomas Martin Etcheverry (currently ranked World No. 58), secured Sofia Costoulas (World No. 168) for INR 11 lakh after a showdown against Gujarat Panthers and Hyderabad Strikers. The franchise also added doubles expert Jeevan Neduncheziyan for INR 6 lakh, enhancing their singles and doubles roster.

Gurgaon Grand Slammers, led by Corentin Moutet (World No. 38), signed Nuria Parrizas Diaz, an accomplished singles player who peaked at World No. 45 in 2022, for INR 6 lakh. The highlight of their auction was acquiring Sriram Balaji (World No. 78 in doubles) for INR 12 lakh, making him the joint-highest bid of the auction.

Chennai Smashers, with Czech star Dalibor Svrcina (World No. 91) as their marquee player, secured Irina Bara for INR 6 lakh and made a significant acquisition of doubles specialist Rithvik Bollipalli, ranked 71 in the world, for INR 12 lakh, matching the day's highest bid and adding a promising doubles talent to their lineup.

Yash Mumbai Eagles, anchored by Bosnia’s Damir Dzhumhur, a former World No. 23 currently ranked 67, picked up Mariam Bolkvadze (INR 6 lakh) and Niki Poonacha (INR 6 lakh) to construct a well-rounded team for the seventh season.

Gujarat Panthers, featuring marquee player Alexandre Muller (World No. 39), acquired Nuria Brancaccio for INR 10 lakh after an engaging bidding contest. They also secured Anirudh Chandrasekhar, who is enjoying a career-high ranking of 87 in doubles, for INR 7 lakh, enhancing their doubles capabilities.

Rajasthan Rangers, led by Luciano Darderi (World No. 29), the highest-ranked player in TPL Season 7, picked up Anastasia Gasanova for INR 6 lakh at base price and secured 25-year-old Dhakshineswar Suresh for INR 7.50 lakh after an aggressive bidding process.

With the top bids of the evening going to doubles specialists Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli (INR 12 lakh each), the league emphasizes the value placed on experienced doubles talent in crafting competitive teams this season.

The Tennis Premier League Season 7 is supported by Clear Premium Water, with Yonex Sunrise as the official equipment partner and Sofitel as the venue partner. BookMyShow is managing ticket sales for the season, and Magnum SX Wellness joins as the official wellness partner, ensuring a high-quality experience for both players and fans.