“We proved it in Pune and can do it again,” says Vishal Uppal ahead of Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs in Bengaluru

Bengaluru – India’s women’s tennis team is sharpening their game as they head into the Billie Jean King Cup play‑offs on home soil from Nov. 14‑16. The squad will face the Netherlands and Slovenia in a high‑stakes showdown that could mark a historic win for Indian tennis.

Captain Vishal Uppal, who will coach from the sidelines, says the team’s edge comes from belief, unity and hunger. “We’re up against two very strong teams,” he told reporters. “The pressure is real, but it’s a challenge we’re ready to take on. If we play tighter and eat up the match with hunger, we can win.”

India earned its spot in the play‑offs after a spirited run in Pune, beating higher‑ranked opponents Hong Kong (China) and Korea. Uppal credits the team’s success to collective discipline and teamwork. “There’s no ‘I’ in our squad – only ‘we’,” he said. “When we worked together in Pune, we upset the odds. That bond will carry us forward in Bengaluru.”

The players camped in Bengaluru for ten days, starting on Nov. 4, to sharpen tactics and mental focus. Uppal notes that many of the girls have been performing solidly on the professional tour, keeping their level sharp for the upcoming matches. “We need to stay disciplined and make the big names feel the pressure,” he added.

Uppal first led the team to the 2020 play‑offs, the first time India reached that stage. “Captaining India is a huge honour,” he said. “Playing for our nation has always been my goal, and now to lead the team when we host the play‑offs is truly special.”

Beyond the immediate competition, Uppal hopes the event will inspire a new generation. “I want every young Indian woman watching these games to dream of playing for India someday,” he said. “Our sport has great talent, and we want to build opportunities so more girls can wear the India jersey with pride.”

With the Bengaluru crowd behind them, India’s women’s tennis team is poised to show what passion, teamwork and a fighting spirit can achieve on home turf.

Source: ianslive


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