Sahaja Yamalapalli, 23, is on the verge of becoming India’s top-ranked women’s singles tennis player, surpassing Ankita Raina, who has been the country’s leading player in the post-Sania Mirza era. Ranked 301 in the live WTA rankings, Sahaja’s consistent performances on the pro circuit will propel her to the No. 1 spot for India in the official WTA Rankings on September 9.

Supported by Techwave Consulting, Lakshya Sports, Bharat Forge, Neeraj Kedia, Subramanyam Reddy, and Prahlad Jain, Sahaja trains at the PBI Academy in Bangalore when in India and the Ashley Hobson Performance Academy in Florida when in the US.

Her rise marks a significant moment for Indian tennis, highlighting her determination and talent on the global stage. Prior to turning pro, Sahaja played college tennis in the US for Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Texas. Learn more about her journey here.