Bengaluru, July 30: Karnataka’s exceptional junior tennis wave is hitting new peaks across Europe, as the prodigies from the state – Srishti Kiran and Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar, representing Asia, marched into the semifinals of their ongoing European tour events.
Complementing the girls’ sensational run, Bengaluru’s Puneeth Manohar has been a standout performer for the Asian Team. The teenage trio are currently traveling the continent as selected members of the prestigious Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP) / ITF / ATF Europe Under-14 development team.
Srishti Kiran, the world’s highest-ranked Under-13 player, entered the last four with immense momentum after a spectacular grass-court debut. Having earned direct qualification for the prestigious 2026 Wimbledon 14 & Under Championships earlier this summer, Srishti delivered a phenomenal performance against the world’s best to finish at a highly creditable 6th place in London.
Carrying that elite form onto European clay, Srishti and her doubles partner Padmapriya Ramesh Kumar—the reigning AITA National Series U-16 double-champion—showcased flawless tactical aggression this week to dismantle top-tier European seeds and claim their spots in the final four. This clay-court success serves as the ultimate warm-up for the girls, who will fly out next week to lead the Indian National team at the World Tennis 14&U Junior Team Finals in Prostejov, Czechia, from Aug 3-8, 2026.
Fresh off his own historic qualification and competitive match wins at the 2026 Wimbledon 14 & Under Championships, Puneeth’s inclusion in the elite touring squad underscores his status as one of the top Under-14 boy’s players in Asia.
The European tour concludes just ahead of the 2026 World Tennis 14&U Junior Team Finals in Czechia, marking the first time in 12 years that the Indian Under-14 Girls’ team has qualified for the global stage. Srishti and Padmapriya alongside Zoha Qureshi will represent the country. Led by Captain Asha Sharma, the Indian contingent will battle 15 other elite nations in Prostejov.
