Getting the opportunity to photograph an international tennis tournament at the DLTA (Delhi Lawn Tennis Association) was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences in my journey as a sports photographer in India. Unlike many other assignments where access is pre-arranged, this experience tested not just my photography skills, but also my patience, networking ability, and persistence.
The tournament itself was an international W35-level event featuring some of the most promising emerging tennis players from India and abroad. For me, the journey to entering the venue became just as memorable as the photography itself.
International Tennis Players Cooling off In Between Sets
Initially, I struggled to connect with tournament officials and organizers before the event. Access permissions for professional tennis tournaments generally need to be secured well in advance, and by the time I reached DLTA, many officials were unavailable.
However, instead of giving up, I decided to approach the situation differently.
I positioned myself outside the venue and started networking directly with:
Players participating in the tournament
Parents accompanying junior athletes
Members of the tennis ecosystem present on-site
One interaction eventually led to another. A parent of one of the players introduced me to an official, who later connected me with the tournament director.
The first day was primarily about introductions and relationship-building. I still did not receive access to the courts, but it established trust and familiarity.
On the second day, I returned again and explained my intent clearly—that I was a sports photographer trying to build my portfolio and would also share quality images with DLTA itself.
Finally, on the third day, after continuous follow-ups and genuine networking, I was granted access to the grounds.
Once inside, the experience became incredibly rewarding.
Tennis photography is highly technical because it requires:
Fast autofocus tracking
Precision timing during serves and volleys
Respect for silence and court etiquette
Positioning without distracting players
Unlike many field sports, tennis photography is as much about discipline as it is about camera technique. Movement during active rallies is restricted, and photographers must carefully choose when to reposition themselves.
The tournament featured several rising stars and talented players from India and abroad, making the level of competition extremely strong.
Danish Tennis Star Elena Jamshidi Caught in Beautiful Golden Glow
Future Australian Open Junior Star in Action in Delhi
Park Sohyun - Winner of the W35 Women's International Tennis Tournament
One of the standout players at the tournament was Ksenia Efremova from France, who later went on to win the Australian Open Juniors in December 2025. Photographing emerging athletes before they achieve global recognition adds a special significance to sports photography.
The event also featured Vaishnavi Adkar, who has represented India in the Billie Jean King Cup, making the tournament highly competitive despite being a developmental-level professional event.
Capturing these athletes in action required careful anticipation of:
Serves and returns
Baseline movement
Emotional reactions between points
Celebrations and moments of focus
Future Winner of the W15 - Shruti Ahlawat
Rising Star Vaishnavi Adkar and Semi Finalist at the W35 Womens International Tennis Tournament
The DLTA tournament also gave me the opportunity to meet veteran tennis photojournalist Kamesh Srinivasan Sir, who has extensively documented Indian tennis over the years.
Observing experienced professionals around the courts helped me better understand:
Match anticipation
Court positioning strategies
The importance of consistency in sports journalism
I also met tennis content creator Jay Singh, known through TennisFreeze, who has been actively promoting tennis coverage and digital storytelling around the sport. His work combining photography, content creation, and emerging AI-assisted visual experimentation showed how sports media itself is evolving rapidly.
US Player Aanya Expressing Disspointment at the Referee
Tennis Players Shaking Hands After an Intense Match
This assignment strengthened several aspects of my sports photography approach:
Networking can be as important as technical skill
Persistence often creates opportunities where none initially exist
Tennis requires precision timing more than continuous shooting
Respecting player concentration and match etiquette is critical
Building trust within sports communities opens long-term opportunities
The experience also reinforced how important adaptability is when entering professional sporting environments for the first time.
Covering this tournament at DLTA has motivated me to pursue more opportunities in tennis photography across India.
I hope to continue working with:
Tennis academies
Junior international tournaments
National-level competitions
Professional tennis circuits
Sports development programs
As my portfolio continues to grow, I look forward to collaborating with leading tennis academies, tournament organizers, and players to further expand my work in professional tennis photography.
My experience at DLTA was far more than just another assignment—it was a lesson in persistence, networking, and believing in the value of showing up consistently.
From struggling to gain entry to eventually covering an international tennis tournament featuring future stars, the journey reinforced an important truth about sports photography: opportunities are often built through relationships, patience, and genuine passion for the sport.
It remains one of the most fulfilling experiences in my sports photography career so far and has further strengthened my interest in covering professional tennis in India.