Indian tennis fans are in for an exciting start at the WTA Chennai Open 2025, as the main draw promises a special homecoming moment a first-round all-Indian encounter between India No. 2 Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and 16-year-old wildcard Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi.
The match marks the meeting of two generations of Indian tennis one representing experience and the other symbolizing the promise of youth. Both Shrivalli and Maaya, teammates in India’s Billie Jean King Cup squad, have received wildcards into the main draw. This guarantees at least one Indian presence in the second round, an early positive storyline for home fans ahead of a week filled with global tennis action at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.
For Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, this tournament is another opportunity to consolidate her growing reputation as one of India’s most reliable performers on the professional circuit. The 23-year-old from Telangana has enjoyed a consistent 2025 season, making multiple ITF finals and improving her world ranking steadily. Known for her aggressive baseline play and fighting spirit, Shrivalli’s game has matured through regular exposure in the domestic and Asian circuits.
In contrast, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, just 16, will be making her WTA Tour main-draw debut. A Chennai native and one of India’s brightest junior prospects, Maaya is already a familiar name in national junior events, and her inclusion in the Chennai Open reflects the organizers’ commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. Facing Shrivalli on home soil will be both a challenge and a moment of inspiration for the teenager, who represents the next generation of Indian tennis.
Sahaja Yamalapalli Headlines Indian Challenge
While Shrivalli and Maaya will attract considerable domestic attention, India’s top-ranked player, Sahaja Yamalapalli, also returns to the spotlight. The 22-year-old from Hyderabad has been drawn against a qualifier in her opening match and enters the tournament on the back of a career-best season that saw her break into the world’s top 150.
Sahaja’s fearless style, especially on hard courts, has made her India’s most successful singles player on the ITF circuit this year. With the Chennai crowd behind her, she’ll look to capitalize on the opportunity to go deep into the draw and potentially face higher-ranked opponents in the later rounds.
The Chennai Open’s main draw has undergone a few last-minute changes. Germany’s Tatjana Maria, originally the top seed, withdrew due to injury, prompting Japan’s Nao Hibino to enter the draw. As a result, Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez now assumes the top-seed position and opens against Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova. Second seed Francesca Jones of Great Britain begins her campaign against Frenchwoman Diane Parry, while third seed and Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekić opens against a qualifier. Meanwhile, Linda Fruhvirtova, the 2022 Chennai Open champion, returns to India to face Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam in a mouthwatering first-round clash.
With players from over 18 nations competing, including rising stars like Janice Tjen (Indonesia) and Mei Yamaguchi (Japan), this year’s Chennai Open promises a rich mix of experience, flair, and emerging global talent.
Indian Presence Extends to Doubles Draw
India’s participation at the Chennai Open extends well beyond the singles draw, with a strong representation in doubles.
Ten Indian players, including four all-Indian pairs, feature in the doubles field. The standout Indian name is Prarthana Thombare, the 2024 Asian Games medalist, who is seeded fourth alongside Dutch partner Arianne Hartono. The pair will aim to make a deep run in what is expected to be a highly competitive draw. The doubles event is headlined by top seeds Storm Hunter (Australia) and Monica Niculescu (Romania), who have received a bye into the quarterfinals. Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and Aldila Sutjiadi, the second seeds, will open against fellow Indonesian Priska Nugroho and Russia’s Sofya Lansere in a compelling first-round matchup.
Vaishnavi Adkar Shines in Qualifying
India’s Vaishnavi Adkar has given home fans plenty to cheer about with her performance in the qualifying rounds. The 20-year-old wildcard defeated Russia’s Amina Anshba 7-5, 6-2 to move into the final qualifying round. Her composed display was one of the standout moments of the opening day, underlining India’s growing bench strength in women’s tennis.
However, other Indian qualifiers Ankita Raina, Riya Bhatia, and Diya Ramesh bowed out in straight sets. Despite the setbacks, the sight of young Indian players consistently competing in WTA-level qualifying draws signals growing depth and confidence in the domestic structure.
The WTA Chennai Open 2025 is not just another stop on the calendar it represents the resurgence of professional women’s tennis in India. The last edition, held in 2022, saw a packed crowd witness 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova lift her maiden WTA title. Three years later, the excitement is back, and the stakes are higher. For local fans, the opening-round clash between Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi will be more than just a tennis match it’s a glimpse into Indian tennis’s present and future colliding under the bright Chennai lights.
With Sahaja Yamalapalli leading the charge and India’s wildcards set to make their mark, the week ahead promises not just world-class tennis but also a reaffirmation of India’s place on the global tennis map. The main draw action begins on Monday, October 27, at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, with both singles and doubles matches on the schedule. The finals are set for Sunday, November 2, concluding what promises to be a week of high-quality tennis, national pride, and international flair.
As Chennai once again becomes the epicenter of Asian women’s tennis, the message is clear Indian tennis is growing, evolving, and ready to take on the world, one rally at a time.
