Pune’s rising tennis star Vaidehi Chaudhari gave India a perfect start in their Billie Jean King Cup 2025 tie against Chinese Taipei, securing a crucial singles victory on Friday. Representing her country in the prestigious Asia/Oceania Group 1 clash, Vaidehi battled for over two hours to defeat Fang An Lin with a scoreline of 6-2 5-7 6-4, giving India the opening lead in the contest.
The 25-year-old, ranked 364 in the world and currently India’s No.4, stepped into the spotlight after teammate Sahaja Yamalapalli suffered an injury. Despite battling a stomach illness earlier in the week, Vaidehi made a timely recovery to play a key role for the national team. This win came on the heels of her previous success against Hong Kong, where she had also secured the opening point for India.
Speaking after her match, Vaidehi shared how these recent performances have not only boosted her self-confidence but also validated the changes she’s made to her game. Known as an aggressive baseliner, she has been fine-tuning her forehand and backhand techniques while also focusing heavily on fitness and movement.
“I’ve been working on hitting flatter backhands and putting more topspin on my forehand,” she explained. “I’ve also improved my fitness over the last few years, and that’s helped me a lot.”
Born in Mehsana, Gujarat, Vaidehi’s journey in tennis didn’t begin early like most athletes. She picked up the sport at the age of 11, introduced to it by her uncle, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who also served as her first coach. With a strict training regimen inspired by police-style fitness drills, she underwent intensive bodyweight exercises and long-distance running, often running up to five kilometers per training day.
Despite being the only female athlete from her hometown, Vaidehi still deals with societal limitations. In Mehsana, she isn’t allowed to wear tennis clothes outside, and she has had to blend her public appearance with traditional norms. “Even now, people support me from afar but discourage girls from playing sports,” she said.
However, in Pune, surrounded by teammates and encouragement, she has found her place. Team captain Vishal Uppal affectionately calls her the team’s “sherni” (lioness), a title she justified by finishing her gritty match with an ace down the T.
Vaidehi’s determination, discipline, and dedication continue to inspire not just her teammates but also the next generation of Indian female athletes aiming to follow in her footsteps.
