Kyrgios, Monfils enthrall fans | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Tennis craze has hit fever pitch at the SM Krishna tennis stadium. The first two days of the World Tennis League delivered perfect entertainment, an exciting mix of top players and celebrities. Australian Nick Kyrgios and Frenchman Gael Monfils wowed crowds with their explosive energy, while Bollywood stars Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday and cricketers Shreyas Iyer and the legendary Kapil Dev added to the glitter.On Thursday, 30-year-old live wire Kyrgios received a louder reception from fans compared to Shreyas Iyer. Despite a cast of characters in attendance, it was the tennis players first and sportsmen next, who the fans were there for. Enthusiasts travelled from different parts of the country to get a taste of quality ATP and WTA tennis action. Vijay Suryakiran, a paediatrician, travelled from Shivamogga to watch top players in action. “I primarily came to watch Kyrgios, Monfils and Daniil Medvedev; they are the big names of the sport. Watching them live and up close is a different experience altogether,” he said. “Otherwise, if we want to watch them play, we have to go outside India. Since they are playing in Bengaluru, I could not miss this opportunity. I have come with my son to inspire him to play tennis as well.” The fans, who turned up in massive numbers, were not disappointed. With the matches starting at 3 pm, the crowd swelled under the lights. World No 25 Paula Badosa from Spain showed her array of powerful groundstrokes to floor Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, stirring thrilling moments for the crowd. India’s Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh also made their presence felt, pushing the established foreign stars.
