Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (IND, 623) is set to make her long-awaited return to the professional tour this coming week after more than 7 months out with a back injury. The 24-year-old from Hyderabad, who starred with an unbeaten 5-0 singles run to power India into the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs, is on the main-draw acceptance list for the ITF W35 Sydney tournament running from October 19 to 25 in Australia.
From Pune doubles glory to a 7-month back injury layoff
Bhamidipaty has not played a competitive match since March 4, 2026, when she was ranked No. 520 and had to retire while trailing 1-5 in the opening set against Evgeniya Burdina (RUS, 965) in the 1st round of the ITF W35 Kalaburagi tournament in India, where she had entered as the 4th seed. What first looked like a short setback turned into a 7-month absence due to a lingering back injury.
The injury arrived just weeks after she lifted the ITF W75 Pune doubles trophy alongside Ankita Raina on February 14, beating Misaki Matsuda and Eri Shimizu 7-6(3), 6-3 in the final. Her recovery subsequently ruled her out of India’s 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I campaign at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi in April, where Zeel Desai stepped in to replace her in the national squad. Sitting at world No. 623 this week after missing the spring and summer swings, Bhamidipaty now returns to outdoor hard courts in Australia to rebuild toward her career-high singles mark of No. 300.
The 5-0 Billie Jean King Cup run that made her India’s lead star
Before her injury pause, Bhamidipaty established herself as India’s go-to big-match player in team competition. Making her senior Billie Jean King Cup debut at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune in April 2025 as world No. 345, she went a perfect 5-0 in singles across Asia/Oceania Group I to carry India into the Play-offs. Her breakout week featured wins over Lanlana Tararudee (THA, 170) and Joanna Garland (TPE, 207), plus a gripping 5-7, 7-6, 7-5 comeback victory over Sohyun Park (KOR, 305) in the promotion-deciding tie against South Korea.
That performance earned Bhamidipaty the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award for the Asia/Oceania Group I in June 2025 with 78% of the global public vote, making her only the 3rd Indian player to win the honour after Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina. She donated her $2,000 award grant to Vaidehi Seva Samithi to support education and life-skills programmes for girls. In November 2025, then ranked No. 381, she led India as the No. 1 singles player in the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs at the S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, taking former Roland Garros semifinalist Tamara Zidansek (SLO, 162) to 3 sets in a 2-hour, 19-minute battle.
5-0 BJK Cup Group I sweep
Won all 5 of her singles rubbers on senior debut to propel India into the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs.
BJK Cup Heart Award winner
Captured 78% of the fan vote to become only the 3rd Indian recipient, donating her $2,000 grant to girls’ education.
Back injury halts momentum
Retired at 1-5 in the 1st set at W35 Kalaburagi weeks after winning the W75 Pune doubles title, missing 7 months.
Returns at ITF W35 Sydney
Direct main-draw entrant at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, where she hit her #300 peak in 2024.
Shrivalli Bhamidipaty’s 2025 Billie Jean King Cup singles results
| Round | Match | Score | Match Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grp I | Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 345 d. Aishi Das NZL · UNR | 6-1, 6-1 | Dropped just 2 games on her senior India debut against New Zealand. |
| Grp I | Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 345 d. Lanlana Tararudee THA · 170 | 6-2, 6-4 | Stunned Thailand’s top-200 leader in straight sets to seal the tie. |
| Grp I | Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 345 d. Hong Yi Cody Wong HKG · 378 | 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-3 | Saved set points in a 10-8 1st-set tiebreak before winning in 3 sets. |
| Grp I | Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 345 d. Joanna Garland TPE · 207 | 6-2, 7-6(3) | Closed out a tight 2nd-set tiebreak 7-3 against Chinese Taipei. |
| Grp I | Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 345 d. Sohyun Park KOR · 305 | 5-7, 7-6, 7-5 | Rallied from a set down to clinch India’s Play-offs qualification berth. |
| Play-offs | Tamara Zidansek SLO · 162 d. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 381 | 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 | Pushed the former Roland Garros semifinalist for 2 hours and 19 minutes. |
| Play-offs | Anouk Koevermans NED · 198 d. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 381 | 6-2, 6-4 | Battled as India’s No. 1 singles player in Group G in Bengaluru. |
What awaits at ITF W35 Sydney next week
Bhamidipaty is a direct main-draw entrant for the $30,000 ITF W35 Sydney tournament running from October 19 to 25 (Sydney Olympic Park International #1, W-ITF-AUS-2026-016) at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, with main-draw action beginning on Tuesday, October 20. The venue also stages a 2nd consecutive $30,000 W35 Sydney tournament from October 26 to November 1 (Sydney Olympic Park International #2, W-ITF-AUS-2026-017), giving her back-to-back weeks on outdoor hard courts with 35 WTA ranking points on offer to each singles champion.
The Sydney venue holds good memories for Bhamidipaty. She competed at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre during the W75 Sydney event in late October 2024, the very week she rose to her career-high singles ranking of world No. 300 on October 28, 2024. After testing her fitness on the Australian Pro Tour swing, she is also slated to feature back home in Hyderabad at Season 8 of the Tennis Premier League in December.
| Round | Match | Court | Scheduled Start Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| R32 | W35 Sydney #1 (Oct 19–25): Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 623 vs. Opponent TBA (Main Draw) | Outdoor Hard | Main Draw starts Tuesday, Oct 20 |
| R32 | W35 Sydney #2 (Oct 26–Nov 1): Shrivalli Bhamidipaty IND · 623 vs. Opponent TBA (Main Draw) | Outdoor Hard | Week of Monday, Oct 26 (Draw TBA) |