The Indian women’s tennis team found itself on the back foot after losing its opening match of the Billie Jean King Cup 2026 Asia-Oceania Group I tie against Thailand at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association Stadium on Tuesday.
Persistent showers earlier in the day delayed the start of the tie by nearly three hours.
India’s Vaishnavi Adkar, ranked No. 383 in the world and making her debut in the competition, lost 6-1, 6-3 to lower-ranked Anchisa Chanta in one hour and 13 minutes.
The world No. 456 Thai player, using her unorthodox two-handed groundstrokes, raced to a 4-0 lead and dictated play throughout the opening set.
Adkar showed signs of a fightback in the second set, gaining an early break. However, Chanta responded strongly, winning four consecutive games to go up 4-1.
In the second singles rubber, Thai veteran Patcharin Cheapchandej led Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-4, 1-6, 4-3 when rain once again interrupted play, forcing the match to be suspended until Wednesday morning.
It will be followed by the doubles rubber, where Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale are scheduled to take on Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo and Peangtarn Plipuech. India will later face New Zealand in their second tie of the competition.
In other group ties, the Republic of Korea blanked Mongolia, winning both singles rubbers and the doubles without dropping a single game.
Indonesia confirmed a win over New Zealand, courtesy victories from world No. 41 Janice Tjen, the highest-ranked singles player in the field this week, and world No. 389 Priska Nugroho. The doubles match in that tie was also suspended due to rain and will resume on Wednesday morning.
All six teams are competing in a round-robin format through Saturday, with the top two nations advancing to the next stage. On Wednesday, Thailand will face South Korea, while Indonesia will take on Mongolia.
Last year, India hosted the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I stage for the first time at Pune’s Mahalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex.
The Indian tennis team finished the group as runner-ups behind New Zealand to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs. However, India’s run ended in the playoffs after losses to the Netherlands and Slovenia.
Billie Jean King Cup 2026 Asia-Oceania Group I Day 1 results
Thailand lead India 1-0
- Anchisa Chanta (THA) beat Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) 6-1, 6-3
- Patcharin Cheapchandej (THA) leads Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 6-4, 1-6, 4-3 (match suspended)
- Rutuja Bhosale (IND) / Ankita Raina vs Thasaporn Naklo(THA) / Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) (to be played on Wednesday)
Indonesia lead New Zealand 2-0
- Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) beat Aishi Das (NZL) 6-4, 6-1
- Janice Tjen (INA) beat Monique Barry (NZL) 6-3, 6-1
- Monique Barry (NZL) / Erin Routliffe (NZL) vs Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) / Aldila Sutjiadi (INA) 1-1 (suspended due to rain. Match will resume on Wednesday morning)
South Korea beat Mongolia 3-0
- Dayeon Back (KOR) beat Khongorzul Aldarkhishig (MGL) 6-0, 6-0
- Sohyun Park (KOR) beat Jargal Altansarnai (MGL) 6-0, 6-0
- BoYoung Jeong (KOR) / Eunhye Lee (KOR) beat Khongorzul Aldarkhishig (MGL) / Anu-Vjin Gantor (MGL) 6-0, 6-0
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/billie-jean-king-cup-2026-tennis-asia-group-i-india-vs-thailand-day-1-report
