Moss said India is a vast country with a rich tennis history and immense potential, adding that he is working with AITA and state bodies to grow the game and turn that potential into reality….reports Asian Lite News
During his recent visit to Bengaluru for the ongoing ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026, Andrew Moss, Executive Director of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour & Data Rights, expressed optimism about the future of tennis in India and its potential to emerge as a tennis powerhouse.
“India is a huge country. It’s got a huge tennis history, and it’s got massive tennis potential in terms of skill. This trip has been great for me because we’re working with AITA and with the regional state associations to have plans to further grow the game in the near future. Because there is so much potential and we want to work with the various Indian bodies to really bring that to reality,” he shared after a meeting with the officials.
Moss met with officials from the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) to discuss plans to bring more ITF World Tennis Tour events to Bengaluru. The discussions focused on creating additional opportunities for Indian athletes and strengthening the tennis structure in the region.
Lauding the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, Moss said, “This is my second time in Bangalore. I was here a couple of years ago. It’s great to have the W100 here for the second year. The facilities here are fantastic. Great feedback from the players already about the high standards here. I’m very excited to see this tournament play out this week.”
On the importance of the competition to the broader ecosystem, Moss added, “The World Tennis Tour is the essential pathway — the main artery to the top. Hosting nearly 1,200 tournaments across 75 countries annually, it provides a structured pathway for players to progress from junior and entry-level events to the professional circuit. It’s extremely important that we have tournaments in as many countries as we can.”
In recent months, the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium has hosted several major events, including the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs, the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 1, and multiple ITF competitions.
Moss spoke about the importance of international team events in building interest in the sport, referring to India’s exploits in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 1 earlier in the month as an example.
“When you have a team competition, you have players representing their countries. And as you saw just a couple of weeks back, it means players do extraordinary things when they’re playing for their country. A wonderful atmosphere, and from everything that I’ve been told and everything I can see, it follows a run of events here that are really starting to be a catalyst for more interest in tennis here. So, I think they’re fundamental to the growth of tennis in emerging countries,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) honoured the Indian Davis Cup team for their impressive victory over the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Qualifiers during the Delhi Open ATP Challenger event last evening.
India, then ranked 33rd, defeated the sixth-ranked Dutch team 3-2 in an exciting match in Bengaluru earlier this month, securing their spot in the second round of the Davis Cup Qualifiers scheduled for September.
Kunal, IAS, AGMUT 2005, who is the Joint Secretary of Sports Development at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, attended the event.
Also present were Rohit Rajpal, President of DLTA; Sanjeev Kassal, President of the International Lawn Tennis Club of India; Deepak Gupta, Secretary of DLTA; Col. Ranbir Chauhan, General Secretary of Operations at DLTA; Satish Upadhyay, Senior Vice President of DLTA; John Blom, ATP Supervisor for the Delhi Open 2026; and India No. 1 Sumit Nagal, a member of the winning team.
During the felicitation, Rajpal emphasised the association’s dedication to expanding the sport in India. “At DLTA, we remain committed to supporting and strengthening Indian tennis at every level. Celebrating our Davis Cup team is part of that larger vision.”
Nagal, who reached the second round of the Delhi Open, talked about his win during a media interview at the ceremony.
“I think everyone did a fantastic job. You go out there, you win your match, it gets easier and easier. In Switzerland, I got two points and this Bangalore tie, Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar Suresh got all the points. At the end of the day, Davis Cup is about the team and like I said, everybody performed.”
Nagal also praised his teammate Dhakshineswar Suresh, who won both of his singles matches against the Netherlands.
“I met him in 2016, so I know him for a decade. I have always supported him in any way, whatever way I could. DK is also a very nice guy, very calm and smart on the court. I really believe he can do well and I really wish him the best. Whenever he thinks something is missing or wants an advice, he’s very quick to ask. Even in the Davis Cup match, I tell him what I feel like.”
Nagal mentioned that India’s upcoming match against Korea in September will be challenging.
“You are playing a top 16 match; you can’t really get an easy match now. They’ve always played well, always performed well under Davis Cup. I know it’s going to be a hard match, but if you’re playing well and you can always give yourself a chance to win.”
