The clay courts of Paris have once again become the proving ground for emerging tennis stars, and this year’s Roland Garros Juniors 2025 qualifiers have seen several young Indian players making their mark.
From battling fatigue to dominating seeded opponents, the Indian juniors delivered gutsy and commendable performances in their opening qualifying matches.
Maaya Rajeshwaran Shows Grit Amid Visa Ordeal
15-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, currently ranked WTA #646 and Junior World No. 78, arrived in Paris just hours before her opening match due to a last-minute visa clearance. Despite the odds, the Coimbatore teenager showed remarkable courage to step onto the court and compete.
She faced 17-year-old Brooke Black of Great Britain, who recently reached the quarterfinals of an ITF W35 event. The Brit used her experience and rhythm to secure a 6-2, 6-3 win, but Maaya earned plaudits for her commitment and mental strength in difficult circumstances. This experience, although a loss on the scoreboard, is bound to strengthen her as she continues on the junior circuit.
Rethin Pranav Falls After Brave Battle
17-year-old Rethin Pranav went toe-to-toe with the 13th seed Hidde Schoenmakers from the Netherlands in what turned out to be one of the tightest matches of the first qualifying round. Rethin lost 4-6, 4-6, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
After going down a break in both sets, the Indian showed great resolve to fight back, even levelling the second set at 4-4 before being broken again. The final point tally was 74-66 in favour of Schoenmakers, indicating just how close the match was. Rethin exits the tournament, but not without showing he can compete at the top level of junior tennis.
Manas Dhamne Starts with Commanding Win
Manas Dhamne, ranked ATP #716, got off to a dream start in Paris. The 17-year-old dismantled Romanian opponent Alejandro Mateo Berge Nourescu in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to move one step closer to the main draw.
Dhamne, widely regarded as one of India’s brightest tennis prospects, showed excellent control and court awareness throughout the match. His dominance on serve and ability to dictate baseline rallies were clear signs of his readiness for bigger stages. With this performance, he has set himself up well for the final qualifying round.
Hitesh Chauhan Stuns Junior World No. 55
The biggest Indian story of the day came courtesy of 17-year-old Hitesh Chauhan, who pulled off a commanding upset win over Italy’s Gabriele Crivellaro, the Junior World No. 55. Chauhan breezed through the match with a 6-3, 6-0 victory, leaving no room for doubt about his intentions.
Mixing aggression with composure, Chauhan dominated from start to finish, barely giving his opponent a chance to settle into the contest. With this big win, he moves into the final qualifying round and will look to carry this momentum into his next match, where a place in the Roland Garros Juniors main draw will be up for grabs.
Summary of Indian Results – Roland Garros Juniors Qualifying Round 1
- Maaya Rajeshwaran 🇮🇳 Lost to Brooke Black 🇬🇧 | 2-6,3-6
- Rethin Pranav 🇮🇳 Lost to Hidde Schoenmakers (13) 🇳🇱 4-6,4-6
- Manas Dhamne def
Alejandro Berge Nourescu 🇷🇴 6-2,6-2
- Hitesh Chauhan def
Gabriele Crivellaro (Jr WR #55) 🇮🇹 6-3,6-0
With Manas Dhamne and Hitesh Chauhan just one win away from a place in the main draw, Indian hopes remain strong in the Roland Garros Juniors qualifiers. Their upcoming matches will be closely followed as they aim to join the elite field in the prestigious Grand Slam event.
The road to Roland Garros is never easy, but these youngsters have shown they have the hunger, talent, and temperament to rise to the occasion.
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