How Did Nagal and Shrivalli Lead AOS Eagles to Victory?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sumit Nagal showcased a dominant performance in men's singles.
- Shrivalli Bhamidipaty impressed with her skills, defeating younger opponent Maaya.
- The AOS Eagles secured their position for the finals with a strong league performance.
- The WTL promotes an exciting format for mixed-team competitions.
- Support from experienced players like Paula Badosa boosts young talent.
Bengaluru, Dec 19 (NationPress) The crowd favorites Sumit Nagal, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, and Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi were the stars on the third day of the World Tennis League held at the SM Krishna Stadium in Bengaluru.
The AOS Eagles triumphed over the VB Realty Hawks with a score of 22-12 in the opening match, solidifying their position at the top. They concluded the league stage of the WTL with an impressive 65 points from three matches, putting them in a strong position for Saturday's final.
On Friday, tennis power couple, Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, took the court, but this time they faced off against each other in a mixed doubles match. In a thrilling encounter, Svitolina and Yuki Bhambri of the Hawks narrowly defeated Monfils and Shrivalli 6-4.
However, India's top singles player, Nagal, dominated the men’s singles, delivering a stunning performance against former Wimbledon finalist Denis Shapovalov, winning decisively with a score of 6-1, thus granting his team the early momentum.
Shrivalli, who had been cheering from the sidelines during the first two days, stepped up to the challenge. After a solid showing in mixed doubles, she faced off against young star Maaya, trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy. Shrivalli quickly found her rhythm and captivated the Bengaluru audience with her precise shots, defeating the 16-year-old 6-2.
Following that, Shrivalli paired with Paula Badosa to secure a 6-3 victory over the Svitolina-Maaya duo, marking Svitolina’s first loss in WTL 2025.
Post-match, Badosa expressed her admiration for her young teammate.
“India, you have a future star here,” Badosa, who reached the semi-finals at the recent Australian Open, said. “She carried the team today. From our first practice, I was impressed with her serve and attacking style.”
The WTL is a unique mixed-team tennis tournament where top players compete at a high level without the pressures of a tour event. This year, four franchises battled for the trophy. Following a round-robin format where each team faced every other team in quick four-set matches, the top two teams advanced to the final.
Results:
AOS Eagles 22-12 VB Realty Hawks
• Yuki Bhambri - Elina Svitolina (Hawks) defeated Gael Monfils - Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (Eagles) 6-4
• Sumit Nagal (Eagles) defeated Denis Shapovalov (Hawks) 6-1
• Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (Eagles) defeated Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi (Hawks) 6-2
• Shrivalli Bhamidipaty - Paula Badosa defeated Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi - Elina Svitolina 6-3