Despite this, the Bengaluru Open has remained a constant in the tennis calendar, thanks to the Karnataka government and a few Bengaluru corporates, according to Sunil Yajaman, Tournament Director and Joint Secretary of KSLTA (Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association).
The 2023 edition, on the other hand, will feature a new-look Bengaluru Open, with the event now having a title sponsor in DafaNews on a three-year deal, as well as a strong field in both singles and doubles. Sumit Nagal and local boy SD Prajwal Dev have been given wildcards in singles, while six others will compete in the qualifiers beginning February 19th.
Meanwhile, 2022 Wimbledon champion Max Purcell will lead a doubles field that includes Indians Ramkumar Ramanthan, Arjun Kadhe, and two all-Indian pairs.
In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times Digital, Yajaman discusses sustaining the Bengaluru Open through Covid, the new sponsorship deal, and the tournament’s expectations for the 2023 edition. Here are some examples…
Q) The ATP Challenger Tour has returned to India with four events after a two-year hiatus. How important is it for India as a tennis destination in general?
Last year, Bengaluru also hosted an ATP Challenger. We actually had two. And Bengaluru has been a consistent host of this Challenger event for the last five years. But the highlight this year has been the announcement that Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune will all host 130,000-dollar tournaments. I believe this is the first time it has occurred in India and will be repeated. Nagpur will now be included, making it a fantastic event for tennis in India.
New-look The Bengaluru Open promises a treat for tennis fans with a tough field, according to Tournament Director Sunil Yajaman.
By tirupatinews
