Serve and Volley as World Tennis League Sets Bengaluru Match in Motion

MUMBAI: Bengaluru is about to trade traffic for tie-breaks as the World Tennis League (WTL) swings into India for the first time, promising four days of high-octane rallies, bold matchups and a format built for pure adrenaline. Set to take over the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium from 17 to 20 December, the Bengaluru debut brings a snappy, strategy-heavy twist to conventional tennis and fans are already racing to Bookmyshow as Phase 1 tickets go live.

WTL 2025 will roll out a fast, four-set structure covering Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles and two Doubles sets, with captains deciding their doubles line-up right after winning the pre-match toss. The twist continues with a games-won format: it’s not the sets but the total games that crown the winner, putting pressure on every rally and turning even a single break of serve into match-changing currency.

League play will see each team face off once, with the top two advancing to the final. Two ties a day guarantee a steady parade of high-tempo tennis, with traditional scoring retained Deuce replaced by a nail-biting Golden Point, tie-breaks at 6-6, and a fourth-set surge potentially unlocking Overtime. If teams pull level, a Super Shootout settles the score, ensuring no match ends without a final jolt.

THE FIXTURES

Day 1 | 17 December
Match 1: VB Realty Hawks vs Aussie Mavericks Kites
Match 2: AOS Eagles vs Game Changers Falcons

Day 2 | 18 December
Match 1: Aussie Mavericks Kites vs AOS Eagles
Match 2: Game Changers Falcons vs VB Realty Hawks

Day 3 | 19 December
Match 1: AOS Eagles vs VB Realty Hawks
Match 2: Game Changers Falcons vs Aussie Mavericks Kites

Finals | 20 December

Day 1 opens with a clash of style and swagger as the VB Realty Hawks take on the Aussie Mavericks Kites, followed by the AOS Eagles locking horns with the defending champions Game Changers Falcons, a lineup that blends personalities, power and plenty of early fireworks. Day 2 ups the tempo as the Kites return against the Eagles, before the blockbuster Falcons vs Hawks tie takes centre stage, featuring heavy hitters like Medvedev, Bopanna, Shapovalov and Svitolina and promising wall-to-wall drama.

By Day 3, the stakes thicken as AOS Eagles vs VB Realty Hawks sets the tone, paving the way for a Falcons vs Kites duel that looks destined to unleash a flurry of shot-making. By the time the finals arrive on 20 December, the week’s natural rivalries, emotional momentum and championship nerves will have done their work ensuring a finale charged with anticipation.

As Bengaluru gears up for this landmark edition, buzz is building for a format designed around intensity, atmosphere and unpredictability. With global stars, rising contenders and an enthusiastic home crowd converging for a never-seen-before contest style, the World Tennis League’s India debut is shaping up to be a rally worth remembering.