Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: The third edition of the WTA 250 Chennai Open will get underway at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam, from 2nd to 8th November 2026. The tournament won’t just mark the continuation of India’s biggest professional tennis event, but will also bring Electronic Line Calling to a tour-level event in the country for the first time.
The technology will be deployed across all three match courts, with cameras tracking the ball in real time to make precise, split-second line calls.
The announcement was made by Mr. Vijay Amritraj, Padma Bhushan Awardee and President of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), during the official press conference unveiling this year’s tournament. Amritraj, a former world-class player and one of Indian tennis’s most recognisable figures, expressed confidence that the upgrade would enhance the experience for players, officials, and spectators alike, calling it part of TNTA’s effort to “put our best foot forward to ensure a great event.”
Why It Matters
Electronic line calling systems use high-speed cameras and tracking technology to determine, in real time, whether a ball has landed in or out of play: a method already standard on the ATP and WTA tours at many top-tier events, including several Grand Slams that have phased out line judges entirely in recent years.
By bringing this technology to Chennai, the TNTA is aligning the tournament with global standards of officiating precision, reducing the scope for human error or dispute over close calls, long a source of controversy and heated moments in professional tennis matches.
Part of a Larger Push
The introduction of electronic line calling comes as the Chennai Open enters its second consecutive year as a WTA 250 event, and its third edition overall. The tournament has grown into the highest-level international women’s tennis event held in India, drawing players ranked among the world’s top 100.
Government of Tamil Nadu officials, including Mr. Sandeep Nanduri, I.A.S., Secretary for Sports Development and Youth Affairs, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to upgrading infrastructure at the SDAT International Tennis Stadium to meet international standards, alongside broader investments such as the establishment of 10 Olympic Centres of Excellence across the state.
With the addition of electronic line calling, organisers hope to give our players competing on home soil and the city’s tennis fans a tournament experience on par with the sport’s leading global events.