World Tennis League Season 5 to Bring International Stars to Bengaluru from December 17–20

The World Tennis League (WTL) will return for its fifth season in Bengaluru from December 17 to 20, 2026, bringing together leading international players and India's established and emerging tennis talent for four days of team-based competition.

The tournament will be staged at the KSLTA's S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium, marking the league's return for another edition following its move to India last year. Licensed and managed by Iconik Sports and Events, WTL aims to strengthen its position as an international tennis property while bringing high-profile competition closer to Indian fans.

Founded in Dubai in 2022 and co-founded by former Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi, the league has built its identity around a mixed-gender team format featuring international stars and Indian players. Season 5 will continue that approach, with Bengaluru providing the setting for the four-day event.

Several familiar names from the previous edition are set to return to the WTL court. The confirmed returning players include Spain's Paula Badosa, India's Yuki Bhambri and Sumit Nagal, Dhakshineswar Suresh, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty.

Their participation offers continuity from the previous season while bringing together players with different levels of experience and backgrounds. The organisers have indicated that the complete player line-up and team compositions for Season 5 will be announced in the coming days.

The league has featured some of the biggest names in international tennis across its previous editions, including Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek, Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka. Its ability to attract leading players has been central to its ambition of building a distinctive global tennis competition.

For Indian tennis, the presence of domestic players alongside established international names offers an opportunity to compete in a high-profile environment and gain exposure before home audiences.

Bhupathi looks to build on previous season

Mahesh Bhupathi, Co-founder of the World Tennis League, said the previous edition demonstrated the appeal of combining international talent with Indian players.

"Last season was an exciting chapter for the World Tennis League, with an impressive mix of international talent and Indian players coming together to deliver some memorable tennis. The response from fans and the energy around the competition reinforced our vision of creating a distinctive global tennis property," Bhupathi said.

He added that the fifth season would focus on building that momentum, reaching new audiences and raising the standard of the competition.

The league's strategy is built around creating an accessible team-based product that brings together men's and women's tennis within a single competition. Its format is intended to offer fans a different experience from conventional individual tournaments.

The decision to bring the tournament back to India, with Bengaluru hosting the upcoming edition, reflects the organisers' focus on connecting the league with the country's growing tennis audience. Hemali Sharma, Co-founder of the World Tennis League, said Bengaluru's sporting culture and interest in tennis made it an attractive destination for the fifth season.

"We are delighted to bring the World Tennis League back to Bengaluru. The city has a strong sporting culture and an enthusiastic tennis-following audience, making it an exciting destination for Season 5," Sharma said.

She added that the edition would bring together international players and India's established and emerging talent, while aiming to deliver an engaging experience for spectators.

The tournament will be played at the KSLTA's S.M. Krishna Tennis Stadium from December 17 to 20. The venue will host four days of competition as the league continues its presence in the Indian tennis calendar.

Understanding the World Tennis League format

One of the defining features of WTL is its mixed-gender team structure. The competition comprises four teams, each featuring men's and women's players. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with each tie consisting of four matches: men's singles, women's singles and two doubles matches, including mixed doubles.

Every game won contributes to the team's overall points tally. This scoring structure means that each match can influence the team's position in the standings, keeping the contest competitive across the different disciplines.

The format also creates opportunities for fans to follow multiple categories of tennis within the same team competition, rather than focusing exclusively on individual singles events.

As the World Tennis League enters its fifth season, its organisers are looking to expand its audience and strengthen its international profile. The combination of global stars, Indian players and a team-based format gives the competition a distinct identity within the professional tennis landscape.

For Indian players, the league provides a platform to share the court with established international competitors and showcase their abilities in front of a wider audience. The return of players such as Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri and the emerging Indian names listed for the event will be an important point of interest for domestic fans.

With the complete player field and team combinations still to be announced, further clarity on the competitive line-up is expected in the coming days.

Bengaluru will therefore be at the centre of the league's next chapter when Season 5 begins on December 17. Over four days, the World Tennis League will look to combine international quality with Indian representation and continue building its presence as a global team tennis property.