Sahaja Yamalapalli Storms Into Round of 16 at Newport Open With Commanding Victory Over Katherine Sebov
Indian tennis star Sahaja Yamalapalli continued her rise on the professional circuit with a statement-making victory in the opening round of the WTA 125 Newport Open. Ranked World No. 334, the 23-year-old from Hyderabad dismantled Canada’s Katherine Sebov, ranked more than 30 places higher at World No. 302, with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 win in under 75 minutes on Monday.
The result marks a significant moment for Sahaja, not just for the manner of the win but also the opponent she beat. Sebov came into this encounter with the edge in experience. But Sahaja, who is enjoying her most consistent spell in the U.S. circuit this season, was relentless from the baseline, showing no nerves as she raced through both sets with power, precision, and intent.
From Semifinal Frustration to First-Round Brilliance
Sahaja’s victory comes on the back of a gritty semifinal finish at the ITF W35 event in the USA last week, where she lost a heart-breaking match to World No. 412 Liv Hovde Crawley. That contest saw her squander a one-set and 5-3 lead to eventually fall 6-3, 6-7, 2-6. While the loss was painful, it appears to have served as added motivation heading into Newport.
Against Sebov, Sahaja looked sharper, more disciplined in her shot selection, and composed in crucial moments. Her serve held up well throughout the match, and her groundstrokes particularly off the forehand proved too hot to handle for the Canadian. The Indian didn’t face a single break point in the first set, and while the second set saw some resistance, Sahaja’s aggressive returning ensured she dictated the tempo.
Eyes Set on a Big Test: Talia Gibson Awaits
With the win, Sahaja now moves into the Round of 16, where she faces a tougher opponent—third seed Talia Gibson of Australia, ranked World No. 126. This will be the first meeting between the two players, setting up an intriguing clash between a rapidly improving underdog and a consistent top-150 player.
Gibson, just 20 years old, is one of the promising faces on the WTA Tour. The Australian had a memorable April this year, winning a W50 title in France. More recently, she qualified for the main draw at Wimbledon 2025 her first appearance at a Slam but lost in straight sets to former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Despite that result, Gibson’s form on hard and grass courts this year has been solid, and her powerful baseline game makes her a formidable challenge for Sahaja.
Sahaja’s Journey: From College Courts to Pro Circuit
Sahaja’s journey has been one of quiet resilience. A standout player during her college tennis days in the U.S. at Sam Houston State University, she transitioned full-time to the professional tour in 2023. The road has not been easy balancing ITF events across continents, managing injuries, and pushing through qualifying draws but the Indian has steadily worked her way into higher-level tournaments.
Her ranking has seen a sharp rise in the past 12 months, and results like her run to the semifinal at W35 and now this first-round upset at Newport underscore the steady upward trajectory.
While she is yet to crack the top 250, performances like this add valuable points and, more importantly, boost confidence. With the WTA calendar offering multiple mid-level events in North America through July and August, this stretch presents a golden opportunity for Sahaja to climb further up the ladder.
Tactical Battle Looms
In her Round of 16 match against Gibson, Sahaja will need to bring a high level of tactical awareness. Gibson is known for her relentless pace and inside-out forehand, and she’ll likely try to dictate rallies from the middle of the court. Sahaja’s own ability to absorb pace and turn defense into offense will be crucial.
The serve will be a key area of focus. If Sahaja can maintain the consistency she showed against Sebov, especially in terms of first-serve percentage and depth on returns, she can make life difficult for the Aussie. Movement and court coverage will also be tested, with longer rallies expected in this clash of emerging talents.
Growing Significance for Indian Women’s Tennis
Sahaja’s run at Newport is also important in a broader context. With Ankita Raina approaching the twilight of her career and Karman Kaur Thandi dealing with injuries and form inconsistency, the Indian women’s tennis scene is searching for its next top-200 regular. Sahaja, with her aggressive mindset and consistent improvements, is quietly emerging as that contender.
She may still be outside the major tournament spotlight, but her current form indicates that it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a mainstay in higher-level draws. A win against Gibson could catapult her closer to that breakthrough moment.
For now, Sahaja will be focused on the upcoming second-round challenge at the Newport Open. A win over the third seed would be one of the biggest of her career and could potentially open up a smoother path to her first WTA 125 semifinal.
She’s shown that she has the power, patience, and belief to take down higher-ranked players. All she needs now is consistency and the ability to sustain this form deep into tournaments. As she prepares to face Talia Gibson, all eyes will be on Court 3 in Newport where a new Indian tennis story may just be unfolding.
IndiaSportsHub will continue to follow Sahaja Yamalapalli’s Newport Open campaign closely. Stay tuned for match updates and post-match insights.
