The opening day of qualifying at the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series delivered high-quality tennis, international depth, and a clear statement from one of Indian tennis’s most experienced campaigners.
On a sun-soaked Saturday at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), Ankita Raina underlined her class with a commanding straight-sets victory over fellow Indian Akanksha Nitture, while several seeded and international players also moved a step closer to the main draw.
Raina, playing in front of a supportive home crowd, was measured, sharp, and tactically astute as she eased past Nitture 6-2, 6-1. From the opening game, the veteran imposed her rhythm, using deep returns, precise angles, and her trademark court awareness to control the flow of rallies. It was a reminder of why Raina has been India’s most reliable presence on the professional circuit for more than a decade. Nitture showed glimpses of promise, particularly when stepping inside the baseline to attack Raina’s second serve, but the gulf in experience told over the course of the match. Raina absorbed pressure comfortably, reset points intelligently, and repeatedly forced errors from her younger opponent.
Her performance capped a busy and competitive day of action that saw players from across Europe, Asia, and South America take to the courts in pursuit of a coveted place in the main draw.
The day began with an eye-catching display from Russia’s Kristina Sidorova, who dismantled India’s Zeel Desai 6-2, 6-0. The 19-year-old showcased her aggressive baseline game and heavy cross-court forehand, rarely allowing Desai to establish any rhythm. Sidorova’s ability to redirect pace and keep points short made her one of the standout performers of the opening round.
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On Court 1, Finland’s Anastasia Kulikova produced one of the most clinical performances of the day, overwhelming Naoko Eto 6-0, 6-0. The hard-court specialist was relentless on serve, winning a staggering 90 percent of her first-serve points, and never allowed Eto any foothold in the contest.
One of the most keenly watched matches involving an Indian was the appearance of 15-year-old Parthsarthi Aru Mundhe, who was playing in the Mumbai Open qualifiers for the first time. Up against third seed Zuzanna Pawlikowska of Poland, Mundhe showed maturity beyond her years, claiming a tense opening set 7-6 with confident baseline play and impressive shot selection.
However, Pawlikowska’s experience began to show as the match progressed. The Polish right-hander raised her intensity, cleaned up her unforced errors, and took control of the longer rallies to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-3. Though Mundhe bowed out, her fearless first-set performance suggested that she is a name to watch in Indian tennis in the years ahead.
Elsewhere, Japan’s Matsuda Misaki, the fifth seed in qualifying, cruised past India’s Saumya Vig 6-0, 6-1. Misaki dominated from the baseline, picking her moments to move forward and disrupting Vig’s timing with well-placed approach shots.
Argentina’s Nicole Fossa Huergo also made a strong impression, brushing aside Hiroko Kuwata 6-2, 6-1. The Argentine right-hander controlled the tempo of rallies and looked comfortable switching between defensive and attacking patterns, a combination that makes her a serious contender to progress into the main draw.
One of the tightest matches of the day saw Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech produce a resilient comeback to upset fourth seed Yaroslava Bartashevich 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. At 33, Plipuech used her experience cleverly, weathering Bartashevich’s mid-match surge before regaining control in the decider with disciplined shot selection.
On Centre Court, second seed Yasmine Kabbaj of Morocco proved too strong for Sonal Patil, winning 6-0, 6-2 with a composed and efficient performance.
Amid all the international action, Ankita Raina’s victory carried particular significance for Indian tennis. As one of the most decorated and consistent players the country has produced, Raina’s presence in the qualifiers highlights both the competitiveness of the field and her own determination to continue competing at the highest level.
The Mumbai Open, now in its fifth year, has grown into one of Asia’s most important women’s professional tournaments. Past champions include Aryna Sabalenka, who lifted the title in 2017 as a teenager, Luksika Kumkhum in 2018, Darja Semenistaja in 2024, and Jil Teichmann in 2025.
With the qualifiers now underway and the main draw looming, the early signs point to another week of intense, high-quality tennis. For Ankita Raina and her fellow competitors, Day 1 was just the first step in what promises to be a compelling battle for places, points, and prestige at the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open.
