Indian women’s tennis received a timely boost at the ITF $60,000 Nonthaburi tournament, where India No.1 Sahaja Yamalapalli produced one of the most significant wins of her professional career.
Fighting back from a set and a break down, Yamalapalli defeated former world No.96 Chloe Paquet of France 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 in the first round, announcing herself once again as a player capable of challenging higher-ranked opposition on the global circuit. On paper, it was an upset. In reality, it was the culmination of years of steady progression, tactical maturity, and physical resilience.
Chloe Paquet arrived in Nonthaburi as the fifth seed, ranked WTA 237, with recent experience at Grand Slams and WTA main draws. Her career-high ranking of No.96, achieved in 2024, places her in a category that Indian players have historically struggled to breach consistently. Sahaja Yamalapalli, ranked WTA 378 at the start of the match, was the underdog not only in numbers, but also in pedigree.
Yet rankings rarely tell the full story on the ITF circuit. For players hovering between 200 and 400, momentum, conditioning, and match sharpness often matter more than résumé. Yamalapalli’s victory in Thailand was a perfect example of that reality.
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The opening set followed expected patterns. Paquet used her experience to control rallies from the baseline, finding depth and angles that forced Yamalapalli into defensive positions. The Frenchwoman took the first set 6–3, appearing comfortable and composed.
Early in the second set, Paquet again edged ahead, threatening to pull away. It was at this point that Yamalapalli’s growth as a professional became evident. Rather than rushing points or chasing winners, she recalibrated her game. Her first-serve percentage improved, her shot tolerance increased, and she began targeting Paquet’s movement rather than outright pace. The result was a momentum shift. Yamalapalli broke serve, held her nerve in longer rallies, and levelled the match by taking the second set 6–4.
The decider was a test of endurance and mental clarity in humid Thai conditions. As rallies lengthened, Paquet’s error count crept up, while Yamalapalli stayed disciplined. Crucially, the Indian saved key break points and capitalised on her opportunities, closing out the match 6–4 to seal a three-set comeback that resonated far beyond the scoreline.
Why This Win Matters for Sahaja
For Yamalapalli, this was not just a Round of 32 victory. Wins over players with recent Top-100 credentials serve as validation moments on the ITF circuit. They confirm that a player’s level is aligning with ambition. The Indian No.1’s career trajectory reflects patience rather than sudden spikes. After a successful collegiate career in the United States, she transitioned steadily into the professional ranks, building her game through ITF events across continents. By September 2024, she rose to become India’s highest-ranked singles player, signalling a generational shift in Indian women’s tennis leadership.
This victory over Paquet reinforces that status. It shows Yamalapalli can absorb pressure, adapt tactically mid-match, and outlast opponents who have spent years at a higher rung of the professional ladder.
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The ITF Nonthaburi tournaments have quietly become crucial battlegrounds for players chasing ranking points early in the season. Played on outdoor hard courts, the conditions reward physical fitness, movement, and patience attributes that increasingly define Yamalapalli’s game.
For Indian players, the Asian ITF swing also offers logistical and competitive advantages. Travel demands are manageable, surfaces are familiar, and fields often feature a blend of European experience and emerging Asian talent. Navigating these draws successfully is key to climbing toward the Top 300 and beyond.
A Different Challenge Ahead: Anchisa Chanta
Yamalapalli’s reward for her opening-round heroics is a second-round clash against Thai wildcard Anchisa Chanta (WTA 449). While the rankings again favour the Indian, the matchup presents a different kind of test. Chanta is a home favourite, deeply familiar with the Nonthaburi courts and conditions. Her game relies on speed, consistency, and relentless defence a contrast to Paquet’s more direct baseline style. Crowd support and humidity will add further layers of complexity.
For Yamalapalli, the challenge will be recovery and adaptability. After a draining three-set battle, managing physical load and emotional energy becomes critical. Matches like these often determine whether a player can translate a big upset into a deep tournament run.
Indian women’s singles has long searched for sustained depth beyond sporadic breakthroughs. Yamalapalli’s performances over the past year suggest a player entering her prime with the tools to compete regularly at W75 and WTA 125 level. Her win in Nonthaburi also highlights a broader trend: Indian players are increasingly comfortable competing internationally, across surfaces and climates, rather than being confined to domestic circuits. This exposure is narrowing the gap between Indian players and their European counterparts.
While one win does not redefine a season, victories like this often become reference points. For Yamalapalli, beating Chloe Paquet is a reminder to herself and to the circuit that rankings can lag behind real form. As the 2026 season unfolds, her immediate goals will be consistency and accumulation: turning big wins into points, points into rankings, and rankings into opportunities at higher-tier events.
In Nonthaburi, Sahaja Yamalapalli didn’t just win a match. She reinforced a belief that Indian women’s tennis has a player ready to take the next step, one hard-fought comeback at a time.
