Vaidehee Chaudhari Set for Home Challenge as Wild Card Entrant at the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open

As Indian women’s tennis continues its steady upward trajectory, the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series is shaping up to be a crucial platform for the country’s leading players and emerging prospects alike.

On Friday, organisers confirmed that India’s No. 2 women’s singles player, Vaidehee Chaudhari, has been awarded a wild card into the main draw of the prestigious tournament, which will be held at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) in Mumbai from February 2 to 8. The qualifying rounds will take place on January 31 and February 1.

Alongside Chaudhari’s entry into the main draw, two promising talents from Maharashtra 15-year-old Parthsarthi Aru Mundhe and 22-year-old Akanksha Nitture have been granted wild cards into the qualifying draw, giving them a rare opportunity to test themselves against international competition on home soil.

Chaudhari’s inclusion comes after Sahaja Yamalapalli secured direct entry into the main draw based on her ranking, opening the door for Vaidehee to step into the wild card spot. The timing could hardly be better for the 25-year-old, who arrives in Mumbai in strong form after a productive few months on the ITF circuit.

In December, she lifted the W35 Solapur title, defeating Japan’s Michika Ozeki in the final, and she followed that up by reaching the final of the WTT 15 event in Ahmedabad earlier this month. Those results have not only boosted her confidence but also reinforced her position as one of India’s most reliable performers on the international women’s circuit.

Beyond individual tournaments, Chaudhari has also been a key figure in India’s recent team campaigns. She was a regular in the Indian squad at the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 event, where she delivered crucial singles victories that helped keep India competitive against some of the region’s strongest sides. That combination of form and experience makes her a compelling entrant into the Mumbai Open field, especially in a year when the tournament boasts one of its strongest international line-ups.

For Chaudhari, playing at home brings a unique blend of comfort and challenge. “I’m very excited and thankful to Hon President Mr. Prashant Sutar and Hon Secretary Mr. Sundar Iyer of MSLTA for giving me this golden opportunity,” she said after the announcement. “This year there are a lot of high-ranked international players competing in the L&T Mumbai Open, so I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

Rather than setting specific targets, Chaudhari is focused on process and presence. “I plan to enjoy every match and do my best to go deep in the competition by staying focused, trusting my training, and giving everything I’ve got in every single game,” she added a mindset that has served her well during her recent run of results.

While Chaudhari’s wild card places her directly into the main draw, the spotlight will also be on the two young players entering the qualifiers. Parthsarthi Aru Mundhe, just 15 years old, will make her debut at the L&T Mumbai Open after being handed a wild card into the qualifying rounds. Hailing from Dharashiv district in Maharashtra, Parthsarthi has already made her mark on the junior circuit, winning a national championship and establishing herself as one of the most exciting prospects in the state.

For Parthsarthi, the Mumbai Open represents her first taste of senior professional tennis at this level  a significant leap that will test both her game and her temperament. She is set to face Poland’s Zuzanna Pawlikowska in the opening round of qualifying, a challenging assignment that will offer a valuable benchmark of where she stands against international peers.

Akanksha Nitture, the other recipient of a qualifying wild card, will also face a tough opening test as she takes on Indian veteran Ankita Raina in her first match. At 22, Nitture has been steadily building her career on the domestic and ITF circuits, and a strong showing in Mumbai could prove to be an important step forward. Playing against Raina one of India’s most experienced campaigners will be both a stern challenge and a learning opportunity.

The decision to award wild cards to both established performers like Chaudhari and emerging talents such as Mundhe and Nitture reflects the broader vision behind the L&T Mumbai Open. Over the years, the tournament has evolved into a vital bridge between Indian tennis and the global WTA Tour, offering players exposure to high-level competition without the financial and logistical hurdles of international travel.

For Indian women’s tennis, events like this are not just about results but about building depth, experience, and belief. As Chaudhari prepares to take on a strong international field in the main draw, and as Mundhe and Nitture step into the qualifiers with ambition and curiosity, the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open once again promises to be a showcase of both present strength and future potential for Indian tennis.