Rohan Bopanna returns to action, will represent Gurgaon Grand Slammers in TPL
Tennis star Rohan Bopanna and several other international players have been named as marquee athletes for the upcoming Tennis Premier League in India. The league features a unique 25-point format and aims to blend experienced professionals with young talent.
Why it matters
The league represents a growing trend of franchise-based sports models in India, aiming to increase the popularity of tennis.
Former world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and 2023 Australian Open men's doubles winner Rinky Hijikata were on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) revealed as marquee players of their respective teams at the Tennis Premier League (TPL) ahead of the player auction on October 12 in Mumbai.
Bopanna will represent Gurgaon Grand Slammers.
"Every year, the league gets stronger, and I love the team environment and energy the format brings. This year, the competition will be very high, with a great mix of experienced players and young Indian talent," said Bopanna.
Argentina's world No. 60 Roman Burruchaga, representing the Kolkata Thunder Blades, will be the highest-ranked singles player in the league.
Hijikata, who will represent the Rajasthan Rangers, has already tasted Grand Slam success. He also reached the 2025 Wimbledon men's doubles final and achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 23.
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