The Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 7 kicked off in Mumbai with an exciting player auction that drew crowds and tennis stars such as Leander Paes, Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi. Franchises rushed to secure their squads ahead of the December playoffs at Gujarat University Tennis Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Top bids go to doubles stars
Franchise owners pushed the price limits for world‑class doubles talent. Sriram Balaji of the Gurgaon Grand Slammers snapped up a contract for ₹12 lakh – the highest bid the night – while Chennai Smashers’ Rithvik Bollipalli matched him with ₹12 lakh. The focus on doubles specialists shows the league’s new strategy for tighter, more competitive matches.
Key player moves
- SG Pipers Bengaluru (captained by Rohan Bopanna) added India’s No. 2 singles player Shrivalli Bhamidipaty for ₹8.60 lakh and veteran Ramkumar Ramanathan for ₹7.20 lakh.
- Hyderabad Strikers (led by Arthur Rinderknech) secured French rising star Carole Monnet for ₹10.60 lakh and re‑signed doubles ace Vishnu Vardhan for ₹6 lakh.
- GS Delhi Aces (with Tomas Martin Etcheverry) won Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas for ₹11 lakh, and added Jeevan Neduncheziyan for ₹6 lakh.
- Gurgaon Grand Slammers (captained by Corentin Moutet) took Nuria Parrizas Diaz for ₹6 lakh and Sriram Balaji for the record ₹12 lakh.
- Chennai Smashers (with Dalibor Svrcina) grabbed Irina Bara for ₹6 lakh and Rithvik Bollipalli for ₹12 lakh.
- Yash Mumbai Eagles (anchored by Damir Dzhuamur) signed Mariam Bolkvadze and Niki Poonacha, each for ₹6 lakh.
- Gujarat Panthers (led by Alexandre Muller) added Nuria Brancaccio for ₹10 lakh and doubles player Anirudh Chandrasekhar for ₹7 lakh.
- Rajasthan Rangers (headlined by Luciano Darderi) picked up Anastasia Gasanova for the base price and Dhakshineswar Suresh for ₹7.50 lakh.
Season set to begin
The league’s fourth‑week season will run from December 9 to 14, positioning the matches as a fresh showdown of singles and doubles action. The TPL is backed by Clear Premium Water and Yonex Sunrise, with Sofitel hosting the auction and BookMyShow handling tickets. Magnum SX Wellness joins as the wellness partner, promising a top‑class experience for players and fans alike.
With the auction highlights spotlighting experience, especially in doubles, the Bet on Season 7 promises thrilling matches and unexpected twists in Mumbai’s tennis scene.
Source: ianslive
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