Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, November 4: Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi made history at the Chennai Open International Women’s Tennis Championships 2026, becoming the first Indian to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event with a straight-sets victory over Poland’s Weronika Falkowska on Wednesday at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.
Ranked World No. 669, Maaya defeated the World No. 277 Falkowska 6-4, 6-3 to continue her impressive run in the tournament. Entering the main draw as a wild card, the Indian showed composure and variety throughout the contest, maintaining her focus even when the momentum shifted.
The opening set saw five breaks of serve in the early stages, with neither player able to establish control. Trailing 2-4, Maaya fought back by winning four consecutive games to take the set 6-4. She kept Falkowska under pressure with steady play and clever shot-making, eventually sealing the set with an outstanding volley.
The Indian carried that momentum into the second set, moving ahead 2-0. Falkowska fought back to level the score at 2-2, but Maaya responded with a confident hold. A well-disguised drop shot followed by a winner helped her earn game point before she finished the game with an ace.
Maaya’s serve remained a key weapon in the second set, in which she struck three aces. Falkowska’s errors at crucial stages also helped the Indian maintain her advantage, but Maaya stayed composed and moved ahead 5-3. Serving for the match, she converted her third match point to complete the victory in straight sets.
“It definitely feels so good after the win,” said Maaya.
Speaking about handling the pressure, she said, “Coming in as a wild card, I felt I had nothing to lose. I just wanted to play my best tennis and give it my all. I’m happy to have more wins under my belt, and that makes me even happier.”
Maaya’s achievement is a significant moment for Indian women’s tennis. Sania Mirza remains the last Indian woman to reach a WTA Tour singles semifinal, having achieved the feat at the 2009 HP Open in Osaka, Japan. The tournament was part of the WTA International tier level, which is equivalent to today’s WTA 250 level.
In the doubles draw, India’s Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale registered a 6-4, 6-4 victory over the British pair of Madeleine Brooks and Amelia Rajecki. However, the Indian pair of Diya Ramesh and Deepshika Vinayagamurthy went down to Switzerland’s Naima Karamoko and Simona Waltert, while Ankita Raina and her Japanese partner Hiroko Kuwata also exited the competition.
Defending champion and top seed Janice Tjen of Indonesia also advanced to the next round, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland 7-6(1), 6-1. The World No. 75 said she focused on taking the match one point at a time and staying calm, particularly during a closely contested opening set. She also spoke about how much she enjoys playing in Chennai.
The Chennai Open, a WTA 250 tournament being held at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, offers a total prize purse of US$283,347. The tournament runs until November 8.
Round of 16 Results – Singles
[WC] Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi (IND) def [Q] Weronika Falkowska (POL) 6-4, 6-3
[1] Janice Tjen (INA) def Joanna Garland (TPE) 7-6(1), 6-1
Robin Montgomery (USA) def Jeline Vandromme (BEL) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
[6] Polina Kudermetova (UZB) def Oksana Selekhmeteva (ESP) 6-3, 6-0
Round of 16 Results – Doubles
Vaishnavi Adkar (IND) / Rutuja Bhosale (IND) def [4] Madeleine Brooks (GBR) Rajecki (GBR) 6-4, 6-4
Jodie Burrage (GBR) / Robin Montgomery (USA) def Aliona Falei (BLR) / Polina Iatcenko (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
Naima Karamoko (SUI) / Simona Waltert (SUI) def [WC] Diya Ramesh (IND) / Deepshika Vinayagamurthy (IND) 6-2, 6-2
Gabriella Da Silva Fick (AUS) / Zhibek Kulambayeva (KAZ) def Hiroko Kuwata (JPN) / Ankita Raina (IND) 6-1, 6-1
Isabelle Haverlag (NED) / Panna Udvardy (HUN) def Mana Ayukawa (JPN) / Emily Webley-Smith (GBR)
6-3, 6-4
[1] Momoko Kobori (JPN) / Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) def Freya Christie (GBR) / Eden Silva (GBR) 6-1, 6-4