Desi Open Tennis Marks Season 5 as Atlanta Community Grows to 400 Players

NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT

Atlanta, GA, August 28, 2026 — What began as a community tennis league two years ago has grown into a network of hundreds of players who come together not only to compete, but also to build friendships and professional connections.

Desi Open Tennis (DOT), launched in July 2024, has reached its fifth season, with approximately 400 players participating each year.

The league brings together players of different ages, professions and skill levels, offering them an opportunity to stay active while playing competitive tennis in a community setting.

DOT was founded by Naladala, Ramesh Veluvolu, Gopinath, Prudhvi Kasyap, Dhinakar, Rajesh, Venkat Gaggara and Uday, with the aim of using tennis to create a healthy, positive and supportive community.

The league has since developed into a space where players can improve their game while forming friendships and professional relationships. Participants include entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals working in technology, healthcare, real estate and other fields.

Organizers say those interactions have sometimes led to business introductions, professional networking and career opportunities beyond the tennis court.

One of the league’s significant milestones has been seeing players from the DOT community progress to the USTA National Championship level, demonstrating how community competition can also serve as a pathway to higher levels of tennis.

The players who competed at the USTA level are Dilip Duggirala, Suman Rumalla, Santharam Ayyalasomayajula, Prabhakaran Karunanithi, Veerendra Kumar Mamidi, Venkata Kasibisi, Rama Krishna Makkena, Pardhasaradhi Naladala, Rajesh Swarna, Kamal Baravathula, Anesh Gundra, Pavithru Pinnamaneni, Rajasekhar Matharambeti, Vamsi Batchu, Naveen Amradi, RajaNaveen Chinnam, Raj Krishna Boddu and Mahesh Gudipati.

Their achievement reflects another aspect of DOT’s mission: giving players opportunities to challenge themselves and steadily improve their competitive game. Experienced players and team captains also work with teammates on strategy, doubles communication and match play.

Fitness remains central to the league. Regular practices and matches encourage participants to stay physically active while providing the social element that can make exercise more enjoyable and sustainable.

But organizers say DOT’s measure of success extends beyond wins and losses. They point to players gaining confidence, improving their skills, becoming more active and developing friendships and connections through the league.

Helping oversee the growing organization are executive committee members Krishna Mohan, Giri and Deepak Jahagirdar. Kishore Mellachervu serves as media coordinator.

Now in Season 5, DOT credits its growth to its players, captains, organizers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.

As the league continues to expand, its goal remains to create a welcoming but competitive environment where tennis can bring people together — and where the relationships formed on the court can extend into the wider community.

New players interested in joining Desi Open Tennis can find registration information at the league’s website.