In a groundbreaking achievement for Indian women’s tennis, the national team reached the play-offs of the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly known as the Fed Cup) for the first time ever in March 2020, marking a significant milestone in the country’s tennis journey.
The Indian team, featuring Ankita Raina, Rutuja Bhosale, Zeel Desai, Karman Kaur Thandi, and the returning Sania Mirza, clinched a crucial win over Indonesia in the Asia-Oceania Group I event held in Dubai, UAE, finishing second behind China.
This historic performance earned India a spot in the prestigious World Group play-off tie against Latvia, where the team fought valiantly but fell short. Nevertheless, the achievement of advancing to this level for the first time reflected the rising standard and fighting spirit of Indian women’s tennis.
The presence of a seasoned champion like Sania Mirza, combined with the grit of players like Ankita Raina and the energy of the young guns, brought a new level of belief and visibility to the team event.
Though the dream run ended in the play-offs, the 2020 campaign is remembered as a turning point—a breakthrough moment when Indian women announced their arrival on the big stage of world team tennis.
