Next month’s WTA 250 Chennai Open is set to be India’s final Tour-level women’s event before the license shifts to Manila in 2027 — yet Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) president Vijay Amritraj revealed on Tuesday that the WTA has already tentatively blocked dates for a 4-week, 4-state Indian WTA 125 swing in early 2028, while keeping Chennai ready to host an emergency replacement event in 2027 on just 2 weeks’ notice.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in an interaction reported by Sportstar, the 72-year-old Indian tennis great outlined a twin-track roadmap designed to ensure international women’s pro tennis returns to Indian hard courts with even broader geographic reach after November’s curtain call at Nungambakkam.
Manila replaces Chennai
License-holder Octagon and the WTA will move Chennai’s November slot to Manila in 2027 to build around Filipino star Alexandra Eala (PHI, 20).
4 states in 4 weeks
Amritraj has tentatively blocked January–February 2028 dates for 4 back-to-back WTA 125 events across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
Ready on 2 weeks’ notice
If West Asia tensions disrupt early 2027 tournaments, Chennai stands ready to step in as a replacement host with at least 2 weeks to lock in funding.
Why Manila is replacing Chennai on the 2027 WTA calendar
Staged at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam from November 2 to 8, 2026, the upcoming WTA 250 Chennai Open is slated to be the 3rd and final edition of the tournament. With no other main-tour ATP or WTA stop currently on India’s schedule, its departure leaves the country without a Tour-level event on the initial 2027 calendar.
Behind the move is a commercial push in Southeast Asia: the WTA and tournament license-holder Octagon elected to relocate the late-season 250 week to Manila for a maiden Tour-level tournament in the Philippines in 2027, riding the surging home popularity of rising Filipino left-hander Alexandra Eala (PHI, 20).
Inside Vijay Amritraj’s 4-state Indian swing for 2028
Rather than chasing a lone standalone week, Amritraj has pitched the WTA on turning southern and western India into a contiguous 4-week destination swing at the WTA 125 tier — the bridge circuit positioned directly between the main WTA Tour and the ITF World Tennis Tour.
“The plan is to put 4 WTA 125s — 1 each in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra — in January–February 2028. I have already brought up the subject. And they have tentatively blocked some dates for me.”
Vijay Amritraj · President, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA)Maharashtra already offers a proven blueprint for the series, with Mumbai successfully staging the WTA 125 Mumbai Open across the last 3 seasons. Linking Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra across consecutive weeks in January–February 2028 would allow international Top 100 and Top 200 players to travel minimal distances while giving Indian players 4 straight weeks of home main-draw and qualifying wildcards.
The 2-week standby clause that could bring Chennai back in 2027
Even before 2028 arrives, Chennai may not stay dark in 2027 after all. Multiple WTA tournaments are scheduled across West Asia in early 2027, where escalating regional tensions have recently forced adjustments across international sporting fixtures — and Amritraj has already signaled that SDAT Stadium can step in at short notice if a calendar slot opens up.
“When something comes up, Chennai is ready. Just give me a chance of at least 2 weeks to make sure I can get the event funded.”
Vijay Amritraj · Speaking to reporters in Chennai on October 20, 2026Chennai hosts the 3rd edition of the WTA 250 Chennai Open at Nungambakkam, closing out its current Tour-level license run.
Chennai remains on standby as a reserve host if regional tensions disrupt early-season West Asia tournaments, requiring at least 2 weeks’ notice to secure funding.
Octagon and the WTA stage a maiden Tour-level tournament in Manila in Chennai’s former calendar window, headlined by Alexandra Eala (PHI, 20).
Provisional dates blocked with the WTA for 4 consecutive WTA 125 events across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.