Strong Week for Bhamidipaty at ITF W75 Sumter with Top Seed Scalp and Deep Doubles Run
Indian tennis player Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty delivered one of the most impressive performances of her career at the ITF W75 tournament in Sumter, USA, combining a stunning upset victory with consistent doubles success across a week of high-quality tennis.
Singles Campaign: From Upset Win to Quarter-Finals
Bhamidipaty’s tournament began with a statement-making victory that immediately announced her presence. Facing top-seeded American Hanna Chang in the opening round, the world No. 335 found herself in a challenging position after dropping the first set 3-6. However, what followed showcased the mental fortitude that defines elite competitors.
The Indian player completely turned the match around, dominating the second set 6-3 before closing out the victory with another 6-3 set to complete a remarkable 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 upset. The victory was particularly significant given Chang’s higher ranking at world No. 212, representing a quality win against the top seed.
Building on this momentum, Bhamidipaty continued her strong form in the Round of 16, dispatching American wildcard Julia Fliegner in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. The comprehensive victory demonstrated her ability to maintain intensity and focus after her breakthrough first-round performance.
Throughout her singles campaign, Bhamidipaty’s serve emerged as a dominant weapon that consistently troubled opponents. Her majestic delivery combined raw power with pinpoint placement, allowing her to dictate rallies from the opening shot of each point. The Indian’s serving prowess was particularly evident during her comeback against Chang, where her ability to find the corners and generate free points became increasingly crucial as the match progressed. Her commanding presence on serve not only provided immediate scoring opportunities but also set up attacking positions for the next shot, demonstrating the complete serving arsenal that has become a hallmark of her developing game.
Her singles run eventually ended in the quarter-finals against Czech player Darja Vidmanova (ranked No. 333), losing 0-6, 4-6. While the scoreline suggests a difficult day at the office, reaching the quarter-finals of a W75 event represents solid progress for the Indian player.
Doubles Success: Partnership Delivers Results
Bhamidipaty’s week was further highlighted by an excellent doubles campaign alongside Canadian partner Katherine Sebov. The partnership got off to a flying start, defeating second-seeded Americans Ayana Akli and Dalayna Hewitt in a tight first-round encounter 7-6(6), 6-4.
The duo continued their strong form in the quarter-finals, overcoming the American pair of Salma Ewing and Elizabeth Ionescu 6-3, 7-5 to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Their run finally ended against fourth seeds Tara Moore (Great Britain) and Abigail Rencheli (USA) in a closely contested three-set match, losing 6-4, 2-6, [4-10] in the match tiebreak.
Tournament Takeaways
Bhamidipaty’s performance in Sumter highlighted several key strengths in her game. Her ability to recover from a set down against higher-ranked opposition in the opening round demonstrated impressive mental resilience. The quality of her comeback against Chang, where she won 12 of the final 18 games, showed both tactical adaptability and physical conditioning.
Adding to it, her doubles success indicates strong court craft and partnership skills that could serve her well in future tournaments.
For Indian tennis, Bhamidipaty’s performance represents another positive step forward, with her upset victory over the top seed likely to provide valuable ranking points and confidence heading into future tournaments. The week in Sumter has certainly established her as a player capable of competing with and defeating higher-ranked opposition when her game clicks into gear.
