The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), in collaboration with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and the state government, recently hosted a press conference to officially announce the highly anticipated return of the Chennai Open WTA 250.
Here are the key highlights for the upcoming tournament:
- Dates & Venue: Scheduled to take place from November 2 to 8, 2026, at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam.
- Leadership & Support: Led by TNTA President and tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, the event is backed by a generous ₹10 crore sanction from the state government.
- Historic Tech Upgrade: The third edition of the tournament will mark a historic first for Indian tennis with the introduction of Electronic Line Calling (ELC) technology across its match courts.
Below is the detailed transcript and Q&A session from the press conference, highlighting the tournament’s broader vision, infrastructural upgrades, and its profound impact on the nation’s grassroots sporting ecosystem.
Q1: As this is the third edition of the WTA 250 in Chennai, how do you see the overall impact of hosting this tournament on Indian tennis, especially after two Indian girls reached the second round last year? (Sudarshan, Times of India)
Vijay Amritraj:
“The most important aspect of having this tournament here is:
- Global Tour Presence: It puts us firmly on the international tour calendar (ATP/WTA), which is vital for the city, state, and country.
- Inspiring Youngsters: It allows our young boys and girls to see world-class athletes up close—how they train, prepare, and conduct themselves before stepping onto the court. We never had that kind of exposure growing up.
- Player Development: It gives our Indian girls a real benchmark to evaluate their game—asking themselves, ‘Am I good enough? How can I improve? What extra training do they do?’ Playing against top-ranked players who might beat you soundly teaches you exactly what it takes to compete against the top 30 or top 50 in the world. Winning matches through wildcards last year provided tremendous belief and confidence to our girls.”
Q2: Are any Top 50 players expected to participate this year? Also, regarding weather delays from rain last year and crowd attendance, how do you plan to tackle these challenges?
Vijay Amritraj:
“Regarding player field: We are receiving offers and in active discussions through Octagon with several Top 50 players. Bringing Top 50 players naturally involves appearance fees and sponsorship economics. We are working towards securing two to four players from the Top 50 bracket.
Regarding the weather: Last year, it only rained on Monday and Tuesday, yet we completed the entire tournament right on schedule. Hard courts offer a major advantage over clay courts because they can be dried and cleaned very quickly by our court staff. We also have sufficient contingency built into the schedule to manage any rain delays.”
Q3: With Electronic Line Calling (ELC) being introduced for the first time, was this decision driven by player feedback or organizers’ planning, and what is the cost involved for a WTA 250 event? (Nihit, Sportstar)
Vijay Amritraj:
“Every year, tours strive to upgrade tournament standards. Seeing no line umpires at major tournaments like Wimbledon and hearing automated calls is the new reality of modern tennis. ELC has now been made mandatory across all ATP and WTA tour events on all match courts (at least three courts in our case). While it is a significant financial investment and not inexpensive, it is a tour requirement that ensures uniform, accurate officiating without on-court disputes.”
Q4: Chennai has a long history of passionate line umpires and officials since the Chennai Open days. How have they reacted to being phased out by automated line calling?
Vijay Amritraj:
“Even at Wimbledon, around 380 line officials were not required due to automation. However, this shift opens up other vital avenues in player services and tournament operations—such as supervising, on-court player assistance, security, and player escort duties (which AI and cameras cannot handle). There are plenty of roles where their experience and passion remain deeply valuable.”
Q5: Last year, there were interactive exhibitions and fan activities. Are there similar entertainment plans between matches this year?
Vijay Amritraj:
“Yes, we are very open to creative suggestions. We want to bring in personalities from various walks of life—prominent athletes from other sports, film industry celebrities (actors like R. Madhavan and filmmaker Mani Ratnam have joined us on court in the past), and perhaps even have the Honorable Chief Minister hit a few balls on the final day. Engaging the community and making it an enjoyable fan experience is a key priority.”
Q6: Beyond the WTA 250, how do you view the grassroots development of tennis in Tamil Nadu, and how many new talents can we expect to emerge in the coming years? (Akash, DT Next)
Vijay Amritraj:
“Interest in tennis across the state is surging, much like the phenomenal boom in Indian chess where we now have over 100 Grandmasters. More kids want to play, and the talent pool is expanding rapidly. The crucial element is striving for excellence—what sacrifices players, parents, and coaches are willing to make to reach the highest echelon. With the active backing of the Tamil Nadu Government and the Sports Ministry, TNTA’s role is to provide the platform, infrastructure, and international exposure so that dedicated kids can realize their potential.”
Q7: When will the official player entry list be released? (Sujit, Dinamani)
Vijay Amritraj:
“The official WTA entry deadline/cutoff is six weeks prior to the tournament. That is when the initial entry list based on rankings is locked. In the subsequent weeks, we finalize wildcards, sponsors, and appearance commitments for marquee players approximately one month before the event begins.”
Q8: From the Government’s perspective, with a ₹10 Crore sanction, what are the key expectations from the tournament organizers?
Thiru Sandeep Nanduri (Sports Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu):
“Tennis is an international sport that demands substantial infrastructure, funding, and global reach. As a major sponsor, the Government’s primary objective is to:
- Ensure world-class infrastructure and tournament delivery.
- Popularize the sport across the state and country.
- Provide direct motivation and exposure to our young boys and girls. Seeing Top 50 and Top 100 international players in person inspires our athletes to train harder and aim for podium finishes on the global stage, aligning with Tamil Nadu’s broader vision for the 2036 Olympic roadmap.”
Q9: What steps are being taken to generate greater buzz and pull larger crowds compared to last year?
Thiru Sandeep Nanduri (Sports Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu):
“We are initiating promotional campaigns much earlier this time. In coordination with TNTA, we are reaching out across Tamil Nadu to all tennis clubs, academies, schools, colleges, sports universities, and general sports enthusiasts. Because this is a premier international sporting event, creating widespread awareness in advance will ensure strong fan turnout and full stands.”
Q10: Does Octagon assist in securing international sponsorships, and are there specific brand exclusivity restrictions?
Vijay Amritraj:
“Yes, Octagon works closely on the international sponsorship front. However, tournaments must align with WTA global partner guidelines and category exclusivity. For example, the official global vehicle partner of the WTA is Mercedes-Benz, which serves as the official transportation fleet for our tournament as well.”
Q11: What feedback did you receive from last year’s corporate sponsors, and will they be returning?
Vijay Amritraj:
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive; all our partners are passionate tennis followers. I met with several of our sponsors during Wimbledon, and the majority have confirmed their continued support for this edition. We also accommodate their suggestions, such as arranging player visits to sponsor offices and client engagement sessions, which adds tremendous mutual value.”
