Vit Kopriva and Tristan Schoolkate Headline Strong Contingent at DafaNews Bengaluru Open 2025

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-18 08:58:55 |

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The 2025 DafaNews Bengaluru Open, marking its 10th anniversary since the inaugural edition in 2015, stands as India's premier international tennis event. Upgraded to an ATP Challenger 125 status, this tournament further cements its significance in both the Indian tennis scene and the global Challenger circuit. Leading the field is World No. 128 Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic, with nine top-200 players competing for a $200,000 prize pool and 125 ATP ranking points for the singles champion. The tournament promises thrilling action, solidifying its role as a key fixture in the world of tennis.

Taking place at the KSLTA Courts in Cubbon Park from February 24 to March 2, this ninth edition will feature a 32-player singles draw. The field will consist of 20 direct entries, six qualifiers, two special exemptions, one Next Gen Accelerator, and three wild cards. With a cutoff at World No. 237, the event promises high-level tennis throughout the week.

Kopriva comes to Bengaluru in strong form, having reached the final at the Bangkok Open earlier this season. He will be joined by World No. 135 Tristan Schoolkate from Australia, Denmark's Elmer Moller (152), France's Ugo Blanchet (159), and Canada's Alexis Galarneau (177), all looking to make deep runs in the tournament.

The field also includes former top-20 player Bernard Tomic, who reached a career-high ranking of 17 in 2016. With the Australian aiming to extend his remarkable career, fans can expect exciting matchups.

Tournament Director Sunil Yajman shared his enthusiasm about the field: "We are thrilled to have such a high-quality lineup for this year's tournament. The elevated cutoff ensures that Indian fans will witness top-tier tennis throughout the week. Indian players have greatly benefited from this home event in the past, and we hope they’ll seize the opportunity to compete on familiar ground."

"Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the tournament makes this year even more special. With a stellar field, a strong cutoff, and the upgraded ATP Challenger 125 status, everything has come together to ensure a top-tier competition," he added.

Mr. Maheshwar Rao IAS, Hon. Secretary of KSLTA and Organizing Secretary of the Bengaluru Open, added, "The Bengaluru Open has evolved into a key event on the ATP Challenger Tour, and this milestone showcases its continued success. The tournament brings world-class tennis to India and offers our players a vital platform to compete at the highest level. With its upgraded Challenger 125 status and an impressive field, we’re excited to deliver another thrilling edition that further strengthens Karnataka’s presence in global tennis."

As an ATP Challenger 125 event, the singles winner will earn 125 points, with the runner-up and semi-finalists taking 64 and 35 points, respectively.

Italy’s Stefano Napolitano won the 2024 title after a hard-fought final against India’s Sumit Nagal. The tournament has also seen two Indian winners in the past: Nagal (2017) and Prajnesh Gunneswaran (2018). The event was not held in 2016, 2019, and 2021.

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