Riya Bhatia was in her best physical shape during the recent ITF women’s tennis event in Delhi. She was getting ready to do her stint at the gym in DLTA, when one casually enquired whether she was competing in doubles.
The 28-year-old Riya had been busy at higher-level events around the world. At the $275,094 Chennai Open WTA event in October, she had put up a solid display in the doubles semifinals, in partnership with Rutuja Bhosale, against the eventual champion Aldila Sutjiadi and Janice Tjen, but they lost 8-10 in the super tie-break.
It was naturally a surprise to find her at the venue of a $15,000 event, that too in her tennis attire, even though the racquet bag was missing.
One had not noticed that there had been a long silence on Riya Bhatia and her tennis. There had been plenty happening in Indian tennis in the country and around the world, with so many grabbing attention every week that the absence of one so prominent had eluded the radar.
“It is better to talk to you than do a social media post or something. I am ready to talk now”, said Riya, as she opened up about the persistent shoulder pain, the resultant surgery and the long road to recovery.
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“I was playing some of the best tennis of my career. My doubles rank had climbed up to a career-best 177. In the Tennis Premier League (TPL) in Ahmedabad, I was competing in singles and mixed doubles against some of the best men and women players. I was playing great. Afterwards, I was part of Rohan Bopanna’s preparatory camp in Bengaluru. There was some pain on the shoulder and it would not go away despite all our efforts and methods. We took an MRI in Bengaluru, and noticed something amiss. I came back home to Delhi and did another MRI, and we found a long tear on the shoulder. It was end of the season, and we went ahead with the robotic surgery. There were four incisions on the shoulder and the repair was carried out internally. My shoulder was on a sling for six weeks and my mother was with me to help on everything”, said Riya, putting everything in a capsule.
If you thought that the most painful part was over and she could aspire to get back on court, it was not to be.
“Since I had excellent muscle strength and the overall fitness, the recovery was right on track. But when the sling was removed and they reactivated the shoulder and went through the process of testing its strength, I shouted out in great pain. As the physio turned my body on the shoulder, I could hear five snap sounds. It was all done to ensure that I don’t get a frozen shoulder. My shriek in pain almost brought tears in the people around me”, recalled Riya.
The pain was such that Riya, in fear of facing it again, followed the process and every instruction meticulously, including the control of diet.
“I don’t want to go through this again. I have become very disciplined. I don’t miss a session. These days, we do three sessions a day”, said Riya, expressing her gratitude to Col. Ranbir Chauhan of DLTA, for letting her use the best gym at the venue.
Riya (right) had reached a career-best 338 in singles rank in 2020, and had in fact been the No. 2 in the country behind Ankita Raina for a long time. | Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan
Riya (right) had reached a career-best 338 in singles rank in 2020, and had in fact been the No. 2 in the country behind Ankita Raina for a long time. | Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan
Of course, she had more words of gratitude from the heart for Roundglass Academy and coach Aditya Sachdeva for the best advice and support during the most critical phase of her career.
“Indian Oil has been phenomenal with the medical support. The cost of robotic surgery is very high and the company has been backing me fully,” said Riya.
The care with the coach Aditya handled the situation, having the experience of helping Karman Kaur Thandi recover from her setback, has been exceptional.
“Adi sir provided the best team of doctors and physio Dr. Deeksha Gautam, who are helping me recover fast and get back into competitive mode. I am fully focused and preparing to be at my best for the Asian Games”, said Riya, who had last competed in the 2018 Asiad in Palembang.
Of course, Riya had also competed in the Asian Indoor Games in Turkmenistan in 2017.
The uncertainty of a sporting career did leave an indelible mark on Riya. She was playing so well in helping Yash Mumbai Eagles to the final, beating Shrivalli Bhamidipaty twice in the 25-point format, and winning some impressive mixed doubles matches in partnership with Niki Poonacha. On the pro tour, Riya was at her competitive best in doubles.
“I had tied up with Priska Nugroho for playing doubles in three tournaments at the start of the season. After the surgery, I had to quickly excuse myself when she had landed at the venue for the first tournament and contacted me”, remembered Riya. Priska then partnered Ankita Raina for the $100,000 event in Bengaluru and made the doubles final.
Apart from the discipline in following the routine for recovery, Riya has been reading a lot.
“I am not a TV person, and don’t watch Netflix. When I picked 20 books at a stall in one go, my mother told me to stop. I have been reading a lot, watching tennis, and following the performances of all our players, men and women”, said Riya.
She was part of the national team that competed in the World Group playoff in Bengaluru against Slovenia and the Netherlands in November last year. | Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan
She was part of the national team that competed in the World Group playoff in Bengaluru against Slovenia and the Netherlands in November last year. | Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan
She has followed the process and “locked” her best doubles rank of 177, which would help her play a few WTA events with the protected rank.
“When I return, my regular rank will be good enough to get entry in the lower-level ITF events,” she said.
Riya is at the moment fourth-best in doubles in the country behind Rutuja Bhosale, Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare.
For the record, Riya had reached a career-best 338 in singles rank in 2020, and had in fact been the No. 2 in the country behind Ankita Raina for a long time. National women’s champion both on grass and hard courts, as far back as in 2016, Riya has won three singles and four doubles titles in the professional circuit.
“I wanted to support the Indian team during the match against Korea in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania event, but could not make it”, said Riya. She was part of the national team that competed in the World Group playoff in Bengaluru against Slovenia and the Netherlands in November last year.
Riya has been in touch with Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, to gather sensible advice and moral support, as both have seen tough times in their career and found their way to success.
National women’s champion both on grass and hard courts, as far back as in 2016, Riya has won three singles and four doubles titles in the professional circuit. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
National women’s champion both on grass and hard courts, as far back as in 2016, Riya has won three singles and four doubles titles in the professional circuit. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Sania has undergone three surgeries and understands my situation pretty well”, said Riya.
Quite remarkably, Riya is also in touch with Shruti Dhawan, the former tennis champion, who takes care of sports persons across multiple disciplines through the Art of Living courses and practices.
“I do the Sudarshan Kriya and meditation regularly. It has kept me sane”, Riya said.
It is not just about strengthening the muscles and the tendons, Riya has been tuning her inner strength to face the challenges of life, especially the uncertainties of a sporting career.
“In the normal course, I would have stayed quiet through this tough phase, but I am talking about it to help people understand the pain that athletes go through and the efforts they make to compete at the highest level. I am far from done. My best is yet to come”, concluded Riya.
Published on May 04, 2026