Day four of the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series delivered a compelling mix of upsets, endurance battles and statement performances at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), underlining why the tournament has quickly established itself as one of the most competitive stops on the women’s circuit in Asia.
The standout storyline of the day revolved around a series of high-profile exits, most notably in both singles and doubles, as lower-ranked players seized their moments against seeded opposition. With quarterfinal spots on the line, Thursday’s matches tested not just technique, but physical conditioning and mental resilience.
The biggest singles upset came on Centre Court, where China’s Fangran Tian continued her dream run by knocking out fourth seed Hanne Vandewinkel of Belgium in a gripping three-set encounter. Tian, who had already picked up her maiden WTA main-draw victory earlier in the week, showed remarkable composure after dropping the opening set. Vandewinkel, ranked 135 in the world, looked in control early, taking the first set 6–2 with aggressive baseline play.
However, Tian gradually turned the momentum, extending rallies, forcing errors, and raising her level in the crucial moments to close out the match 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 after two and a half hours of intense tennis. The win sent Tian into the quarterfinals and marked another significant step forward in her young career.
Court 1 witnessed another physically demanding contest, as Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee battled past South Korea’s Park So-hyun. Tararudee, who featured in the Australian Open main draw earlier this season, had to dig deep after conceding the first set. Once she found her rhythm, the Thai player dominated proceedings, using her superior movement and depth to wear down Park. She wrapped up the contest 3–6, 6–3, 6–0 in just over two hours, underlining her growing maturity at this level.
One of the most assured performances of the day came from seventh seed Lilli Tagger. The 17-year-old prodigy delivered a clinical straight-sets win over Japan’s Eri Shimizu, barely allowing her opponent any foothold in the match. Tagger’s powerful serve and fluent one-handed backhand were on full display as she struck six aces and dictated play from the baseline, sealing a 6–2, 6–2 victory. The reigning junior Roland Garros champion now sets up a mouth-watering quarterfinal clash against second seed and defending Mumbai Open champion Darja Semenistaja, in what promises to be one of the marquee matches of the tournament.
Elsewhere in the singles draw, ninth seed Tatiana Prozorova continued her steady progress with a composed win over 19-year-old Kristiana Sidorova. After a competitive opening set, Prozorova raised her intensity in the second, controlling rallies with consistency and precision from the back of the court. Her 6–4, 6–1 victory reflected her experience and tactical clarity, qualities that could serve her well as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
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While the singles action grabbed plenty of attention, the doubles draw also produced a major talking point with the exit of the top seeds. India’s Rutuja Bhosale and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech, the highest-ranked pairing in the doubles field, bowed out in the quarterfinals after a dramatic match against Nicole Fossa Huergo and Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Bhosale and Plipuech started strongly, taking the opening set 6–4, but struggled to maintain their momentum as their opponents raised their aggression at the net and on return.
Fossa Huergo and Sawangkaew stormed through the second set 6–1 before holding their nerve in a tense match tie-break to clinch the contest 11–9. The result marked one of the most significant doubles upsets of the tournament so far.
Later in the evening, Indian interest remained alive in the doubles competition, with Ankita Raina and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty scheduled to face the Franco-Swiss pairing of Leolia Jeanjean and Naima Karamoko in the final quarterfinal match of the day. With the home crowd firmly behind them, the Indian duo will look to capitalise on the opening created by the exit of the top seeds.
As the L&T Mumbai Open moves into the quarterfinal stage, the narrative is rapidly taking shape. Established names are being challenged, young players are announcing themselves with fearless performances, and the margins between victory and defeat are growing ever finer. Day four, packed with comebacks, endurance tests and upsets, served as a reminder of the depth and unpredictability of women’s tennis at this level. With several heavyweight clashes lined up next, the tournament is poised for an absorbing finish in the days ahead.
