The Kia Tennis Premier League (TPL) will award scholarships worth ₹75,000 each to 36 promising junior tennis players from six regions of India. Two Under 14 champions will also earn an opportunity to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open 2027, with Kia India covering the expenses for each player and one parent.
The scholarships are part of the 2026 Race to Gold Masters, a grassroots development programme that will be held across three weekends in November. The six regions covered under the initiative are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and the North Zone.
The programme will support young players through tennis equipment, personalised apparel, professional guidance and opportunities to interact with leading Indian tennis personalities, including Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna.
Race to Gold Masters Schedule
The 2026 Race to Gold Masters will feature boys’ and girls’ competitions in the Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 categories. The regional events will begin in Delhi on November 14, followed by competitions in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
| Event | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| North Zone Masters | November 14 to 15 | DLTA, Delhi |
| Gujarat Masters | November 21 to 22 | SRT10 Altevol Centre of Excellence, Ahmedabad |
| Maharashtra Masters | November 28 to 29 | Goregaon Sports Club, Mumbai |
The 36 scholarship recipients will be recognised during Kia Tennis Premier League Season 8 in Hyderabad in December. The felicitation ceremony will also be included in the league’s live broadcast on JioHotstar.
Two Juniors to Visit Australian Open 2027
The Kia TPL Road to the Australian Open 2027 initiative will provide an international opportunity to two Under 14 players.
The six Under 14 boys and six Under 14 girls who receive scholarships across the six regions will compete in a final round robin tournament in Mumbai on November 29. The top boy and girl from this competition will earn the opportunity to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open 2027.
Kia India will cover the expenses for both selected players and one parent accompanying each of them. The opportunity will allow the young players to experience one of tennis’s biggest international tournaments.
TPL Season 8 in Hyderabad
The eighth season of the Kia Tennis Premier League will take place from December 8 to 13, 2026, at the LB Tennis Stadium in Hyderabad. The tournament will feature eight franchise teams competing in the league’s signature 25 point format.
Matches will be played across men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Live coverage in India will be available on JioHotstar from 4:30 PM onwards.
The eight participating franchises and their announced marquee players are:
| Franchise | Marquee Player |
|---|---|
| GS Delhi Aces | Adam Walton |
| Gurgaon Grand Slammers | Rohan Bopanna |
| Hyderabad Strikers | Dino Prizmic |
| Rajasthan Rangers | Rinky Hijikata |
| Mumbai Royals | Terence Atmane |
| Lucknow Blazers | Dalibor Svrcina |
| HVR Kolkata Thunder Blades | Roman Burruchaga |
| Gujarat Panthers | Alexandre Muller |
The line up combines established Indian players with international professionals. Rohan Bopanna will represent Gurgaon Grand Slammers, while Australia’s Rinky Hijikata will lead Rajasthan Rangers. French players Terence Atmane and Alexandre Muller will represent Mumbai Royals and Gujarat Panthers respectively.
Season 8 Head to Head
All eight franchises will compete against one another in the league’s team based format. Each team match covers four disciplines: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Every point contributes to the overall team score, making performances across all categories important.
The participating teams are GS Delhi Aces, Gurgaon Grand Slammers, Hyderabad Strikers, Rajasthan Rangers, Mumbai Royals, Lucknow Blazers, HVR Kolkata Thunder Blades and Gujarat Panthers.
The complete date wise fixture list, including which two franchises will face each other in each match, is yet to be announced. The official draw will provide the confirmed head to head matchups and timings for the Hyderabad tournament.
Four Players Fetch ₹13 Lakh Each at Auction
The TPL Season 8 player auction took place in Mumbai on October 12, with all eight franchises completing their squad selections. Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas, Russia’s Sofya Lansere, Belarusian player Iryna Shymanovich and India’s Dhakshineswar Suresh emerged as the joint highest acquisitions, fetching ₹13 lakh each.
| Player | Country | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sofia Costoulas | Belgium | ₹13 lakh |
| Sofya Lansere | Russia | ₹13 lakh |
| Iryna Shymanovich | Belarus | ₹13 lakh |
| Dhakshineswar Suresh | India | ₹13 lakh |
Other notable signings included Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who joined Gurgaon Grand Slammers for ₹7 lakh, and Germany’s Daniel Masur, who was acquired for ₹7.10 lakh. Rajasthan Rangers also strengthened their squad by signing Indian doubles specialist Sriram Balaji for ₹8 lakh.
TPL Expands Grassroots Tennis Programme
Alongside the scholarship initiative, the Tennis Premier League and its franchises have conducted eight free tennis camps across eight states. These camps focused on educating children and parents about nutrition, physical fitness and mental training.
The Race to Gold scholarship programme has supported 80 young players since its launch. With Kia India’s association beginning this year, the league is adding financial assistance and an international tennis experience to its grassroots development efforts.
