Who Is Shrivalli Bhamidipaty? Rising Star Of Indian Tennis And Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award Winner

Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty has emerged as a shining beacon in Indian tennis, earning international acclaim after being named the winner of the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award 2025 for the Asia-Oceania zone.

The 23-year-old from Hyderabad clinched the honour with a commanding 78% of the fan votes, outshining New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. The award celebrates players who show exceptional courage, commitment, and pride while representing their country.

Shrivalli’s achievement follows a stellar performance at the Asia-Oceania Group 1 stage of the Billie Jean King Cup in Pune, where she made her debut for India’s senior women’s team in April 2025.

Playing with grit and composure, she won all five of her singles matches — three of them against higher-ranked opponents — helping India secure a coveted spot in the World Group play-off, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru this November.

“It has always been an emotional moment to play for my country, and I am really grateful for the opportunity,” Shrivalli said after receiving the award. Demonstrating both humility and heart, she donated the $2,000 prize money from the award to Vaidehi Seva Samithi, a non-profit dedicated to empowering underprivileged girls through education and life-skills training.

Born on 12 December 2001 in Hyderabad to BRN Prasad, a chartered accountant, and B Rajshri, Shrivalli was drawn to tennis at the age of 11 — initially inspired by the sport’s glamour but soon captivated by its demands. She pursued a degree in commerce and has aspirations to study chartered accountancy in London.

Currently ranked No. 330 in the WTA singles rankings (as of 26 May 2025), Shrivalli is India’s third-highest ranked women’s singles player. She trains under coach Anand Kumar in Hyderabad and has enlisted the guidance of former Davis Cup player Vishal Uppal to elevate her game to the next level. Her journey is supported by sponsors such as Phoenix Group and Lakshya Sports Edelgive Foundation.

Following in the footsteps of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina — previous recipients of the Heart Award — Shrivalli represents the next generation of Indian women’s tennis, bringing not just skill, but sincerity, perseverance, and a deep sense of national pride to the court.