Sports/Alive News: Indian tennis players Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi will look to make a strong impression at the Chennai Open, which begins on Monday. The tournament is the final edition of the WTA 250 event in India, giving the three young players an important opportunity to earn ranking points and gain international experience.
All three Indian players have received wild cards for the singles main draw. Their current rankings are outside the top 300, making direct entry into major WTA tournaments difficult.
Vaishnavi, ranked 334th, reached the final of a W35 tournament in Tunisia and also made semifinal appearances in other ITF events this season. Sahaja, ranked 369th, has also produced encouraging results, including a runner-up finish at a W35 event in Wichita.
Seventeen-year-old Maaya, ranked outside the top 500, will be another player to watch. She recently won her first professional singles title at the W35 tournament in Lagos in October. She also claimed the doubles title at the same event.
Tough Opening Matches for Indian Players
Vaishnavi will face Britain’s Jodie Burrage, while Sahaja will take on Switzerland’s Simona Waltert. Maaya will meet eighth seed Katarzyna Kawa of Poland.
No Indian player has reached beyond the second round in the previous two editions of the Chennai Open, held in 2022 and 2025. The home players will hope to improve that record this time.
Defending Champion Janice Tjen Eyes Another Title
Indonesia’s Janice Tjen will return to defend her title. She defeated Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in last year’s final to win her first WTA singles title.
Several withdrawals have weakened this year’s field, including players such as Lanlana Tararudee, Yulia Putintseva and Tatjana Maria.
Tamil Nadu Tennis Association president Vijay Amritraj said the tournament was wide open. He also highlighted Chennai’s hot and humid conditions, which could make fitness an important factor in deciding the champion.
