Shruti Ahlawat storms into maiden ITF final after ending Jensi Kanabar’s dream run in New Delhi
Shruti Ahlawat continued her breakthrough run at the ITF W15 New Delhi tournament with a dominant semifinal victory over teenage sensation Jensi Kanabar, booking the first professional singles final of her career in impressive fashion.
The 19-year-old Indian defeated the 14-year-old wildcard 6-4, 6-0 at the DLTA Stadium in New Delhi, producing a remarkable turnaround after trailing 2-4 in the opening set. From that point onward, Ahlawat completely took control of the contest, winning 10 consecutive games to end Kanabar’s stunning campaign. With the victory, Ahlawat advances to the final where she will face Poland’s Zuzanna Kolonus as she chases her maiden professional singles title. While the semifinal result ended Jensi Kanabar’s fairytale week, it also highlighted the growing depth emerging in Indian women’s tennis, with two young Indian players delivering standout performances throughout the tournament.
For Shruti, however, the week has been especially significant.
Ranked world No. 902 entering the tournament, the teenager has shown impressive composure under pressure while steadily building momentum match by match. Her semifinal victory over Kanabar came just days after another statement performance against top seed Zeel Desai in the quarterfinals. That win over Desai was itself a major result. Ahlawat came back from 1-4 down in the opening set before defeating the far more experienced and higher-ranked Indian 6-4, 6-4. It also marked her second consecutive victory over Desai, underlining the rapid progress she has made over recent months.
The quarterfinal showcased her mental resilience.
Even after losing three games from 5-1 up in the second set, Ahlawat held her nerve to close out the match on Desai’s serve, demonstrating maturity that has increasingly become visible in her game. Against Jensi Kanabar in the semifinal, those qualities surfaced once again.
Kanabar entered the match carrying enormous confidence after scripting history earlier in the tournament. At just 14 years and five months old, the youngster had become the youngest Indian female ever to reach the semifinal of a professional singles event, breaking a 25-year-old record previously held by Sania Mirza. Her run in New Delhi had already included impressive victories over older and more experienced opponents, including Russian Arina Arifullina and Sandeepti Singh Rao.
And early in the semifinal, the teenager again looked fearless.
Kanabar raced into a 4-2 lead in the first set with aggressive baseline tennis and sharp movement around the court. For a brief period, it appeared the momentum from her extraordinary week might carry her into another upset.
But Ahlawat responded superbly. Instead of forcing the pace recklessly, she gradually increased the depth and consistency of her groundstrokes while reducing unforced errors. As the rallies lengthened, the physical and tactical balance of the match began shifting decisively in her favour.
The 19-year-old reeled off four straight games to claim the opening set 6-4 and completely changed the complexion of the contest.
From there, Ahlawat became unstoppable. The second set turned into a one-sided display as she repeatedly pinned Kanabar deep behind the baseline and dictated points with controlled aggression. The teenager’s confidence visibly grew with every game, while Kanabar began struggling to rediscover the rhythm that had carried her through the earlier rounds. Ahlawat eventually completed the 6-0 second set to seal a commanding victory and secure the biggest final appearance of her career so far.
The result caps an excellent stretch of form for the young Indian.
Just weeks earlier, Ahlawat had reached the semifinals of the ITF W15 tournament in Panipat, where she recorded the biggest ranking win of her career against Vaidehee Chaudhari. Her performances in New Delhi now suggest that breakthrough results at the professional level may be arriving more consistently. Importantly, her game appears to be developing with greater balance.
Throughout the tournament, Ahlawat has combined defensive resilience with improved shot selection and composure in pressure situations. Rather than relying purely on counterpunching, she has looked increasingly comfortable stepping inside the baseline and taking control of rallies. That evolution could prove vital as she looks to climb the rankings.
For Indian women’s tennis, the week has also offered an encouraging glimpse into the future. Kanabar’s historic semifinal run at just 14 years old signals the emergence of another major junior prospect, while Ahlawat’s progression toward a maiden professional title highlights the importance of players successfully transitioning from junior promise into consistent professional results. Now, only one step remains for Shruti Ahlawat.
Standing between her and a maiden ITF singles title is Poland’s Zuzanna Kolonus. But after defeating the top seed and then producing a dominant semifinal performance, the Indian teenager will enter the final carrying significant confidence.
And in New Delhi this week, she has increasingly looked like a player ready for her biggest breakthrough yet.
Comments (0)
to post comments, replies, and votes.
Loading comments…
