The tennis champion and Hyderabad’s very own sporty crush, Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, as she sets her sights on the Grand Slam speaks to WOW!
Fresh from her win at Fenesta Open Tennis in New Delhi a few weeks ago, Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, 22, is charged up for her 10-day intensive Hyderabad stint. Her packed schedule includes practice, physio sessions and time with parents Prasad and Rajshri at her Banjara Hills residence. WOW! asks questions about her current form and performance.
FIRST SERVE “I am an accidental tennis player,” confesses Rashmikaa. At 10, she loved Western clothes, especially T-shirts and shorts/short skirts. Tennis only provided her with a reason to indulge in such attire. “I started playing the sport at school during summers, but before I knew it, I fell hopelessly in love with the game. By the time I was 12, I started enjoying and winning the game. Both my parents were into sports in their younger days and felt it was time to level up my game with professional coaching,” she shares.
GAME POINT She started at LB Stadium and learned the game under several coaches, prominent among them are AR Anand Kumar at Shri Pallavi Anand Tennis Academy at Bowenpally and Vishal Uppal, in Hyderabad.
ADVANTAGE RASHMIKA In October 2023, she won both the singles and doubles at Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship in Delhi. “I have won the women’s national championship twice. I also won the junior national women’s singles on hard and soft courts.” Last year she won cash prizes in the women’s $25K international tournament in Bengaluru and in Thailand, the $15K in ITF women’s Singles in Hua Hin and the $25K women’s double tournament.
PRIZE MONEY Does she get to keep the prize money? “Yes, on a good day a match can fetch me up to Rs 3 lakhs” she reveals. CURRENTLY AIMING FOR: A leg of Indian tournaments in Gurgaon, Nagpur and Indore of International Tennis Federation (ITF) level $25K tournament.
SIDE HUSTLE Pursuing an online CA course from London
TRAINING AND WORKOUT Her day commences at 5 am with Heartfulness meditation and yoga, lasting until 7 am. Following a nutritious breakfast, she dives into four hours of intense tennis practice until lunchtime. Post lunch, she resumes her practice followed by a comprehensive physiotherapy session and a rigorous workout regimen. This includes endurance activities and functional core exercises with weightlifting and strength training twice a week. In the evening, she dedicates two hours to studying before winding down for the day. “Tennis demands a holistic approach to fitness, diet, and mental well-being. There are no ‘cheat days’ in tennis.”
OFF THE COURT I am an introvert and happy being on my own.
MONEY HONEY Remember that it costs Rs 7 lakhs per month (including coaching, practice, fitness, diet, and tournament travel and stay expenses with the entourage). Yes, read that again!
