Rohan Bopanna Foundation Launches ‘Tennis Dream of India’ to Nurture India's Next Generation of Grand Slam Contenders

Indian tennis has received a significant boost with the launch of 'Tennis Dream of India', an ambitious high-performance programme that aims to nurture the country's next generation of professional tennis players. 

The initiative, announced by the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Development Foundation (RBTDF), marks the evolution of the highly successful Doubles Dream of India programme into a broader platform supporting both singles and doubles players, including women. The programme, which has already played a key role in producing seven players who reached the Top 100 of the ATP doubles rankings, will now operate under the RBTDF banner and be based at the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy (RBTA) in Bengaluru.

The transition represents not just a change in identity but a major expansion in ambition as Indian tennis looks to create a stronger pathway for players targeting success at Grand Slams and on the professional circuit.

The initiative traces its roots to the Doubles Dream of India programme, jointly conceptualised by the Pune Metropolitan District Tennis Association (PMDTA) and Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna. Supported over the years by PMDTA, KPIT Technologies, Avendus, and several other institutions, the programme focused exclusively on developing Indian doubles specialists.

Its impact has already been substantial. Seven players associated with the programme have broken into the world's Top 100 doubles rankings, highlighting the effectiveness of a structured development model that combined elite coaching, competition planning, and long-term athlete support.

The decision to transition the programme into Tennis Dream of India reflects a desire to build upon that success while widening its reach. Rather than concentrating solely on doubles, the new initiative will now support promising Indian players across both singles and doubles, with equal opportunities for male and female athletes.

The broader objective remains clear: helping India produce players capable of competing consistently at the highest level of world tennis.

One of the most significant developments is the programme's relocation to the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy in Bengaluru. The academy has rapidly developed into one of India's leading tennis training centres, offering players access to world-class courts, fitness facilities, sports science support, and high-performance coaching.

By centralising the programme at RBTA, young athletes will benefit from a professional training environment designed to prepare them for the demands of the international tour.

The move is expected to provide greater continuity in coaching and athlete development while strengthening collaboration between experienced coaches, sports scientists, and former professionals. For aspiring players, having direct access to facilities developed under the guidance of one of India's greatest tennis players represents a valuable opportunity.

Bopanna's Vision for Indian Tennis

Former World No. 1 doubles player and two-time Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna has been closely associated with the initiative since its inception. Now serving as Programme Mentor, Bopanna believes the transition marks an important step in the long-term development of Indian tennis. Reflecting on the journey so far, Bopanna acknowledged the contributions of PMDTA, KPIT Technologies, and particularly Kishor Patil, whose support has remained constant throughout the programme's evolution.

"PMDTA, KPIT and Mr. Patil have been true partners in this journey from the very beginning, and their belief in Indian tennis talent has helped shape this programme into what it is today," Bopanna said.

"As we take this next step forward, I want to thank Mr. Kishor Patil personally for his continued involvement, support and commitment and I'm delighted that he'll now be guiding this mission even more closely as Director of RBTDF."

For Bopanna, whose own career has demonstrated the importance of sustained support systems, the programme represents an opportunity to give back to Indian tennis by creating pathways that did not always exist during his playing days.

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Another major announcement accompanying the launch is the appointment of Kishor Patil, CEO and Managing Director of KPIT Technologies, as Director of the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Development Foundation. Patil has played an important role in supporting the programme since its early years and believes the transition under the RBTDF umbrella will allow it to reach even greater heights. "This transition feels like a natural next step for a programme I've believed in from day one," Patil said.

"Bringing it under the RBTDF umbrella, alongside Rohan's vision and involvement since the beginning and the world-class setup at RBTA, gives us the platform to think bigger and aim higher for India's next generation of champions."

He added that he is excited to play a more active role in shaping the programme's future and helping India's most promising tennis players realise their potential.

While the programme's origins lie in doubles development, the expanded structure reflects changing priorities within Indian tennis. Although India has traditionally enjoyed greater success in doubles, producing Grand Slam champions such as Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, there is growing recognition that greater investment is also needed in singles development.

By supporting both disciplines simultaneously, Tennis Dream of India hopes to provide talented athletes with the flexibility to pursue the career path best suited to their strengths. The inclusion of women athletes also reinforces the programme's commitment to developing talent across all sections of Indian tennis.

The launch of Tennis Dream of India comes at an important time for Indian tennis, which is searching for its next generation of internationally successful players. Rather than focusing solely on short-term results, the initiative is built around sustained athlete development, combining coaching, infrastructure, mentorship, and competitive exposure under one integrated system. The programme's previous success in developing Top 100 doubles players provides confidence that the expanded model can produce similar results across multiple disciplines.

With Rohan Bopanna's experience, Kishor Patil's leadership, and a world-class training base in Bengaluru, Tennis Dream of India begins its next chapter with ambitious goals.

As India's young players continue their pursuit of success on the ATP and WTA Tours, the initiative aims to provide them with the resources, guidance, and environment needed to turn potential into achievement—and perhaps produce India's next Grand Slam champion.