Seventeen-year-old wildcard Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi beat Poland’s Weronika Falkowska 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the Chennai Open quarter-finals, becoming the first Indian woman since Sania Mirza in 2012 to make a WTA Tour singles last eight. American Robin Montgomery awaits.
Chennai, India: At the SDAT Tennis Stadium, a 17-year-old wildcard turned a week of comebacks into something larger on Wednesday. Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi beat Poland’s Weronika Falkowska, a qualifier ranked No. 277, in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 Chennai Open.
Ending a 14-year wait
The scoreline was 6-4, 6-3, and its significance reaches well beyond a single tournament. Maaya is reported to be the first Indian woman to reach a WTA Tour singles quarter-final since Sania Mirza did so at the Pattaya Open in February 2012, a gap of nearly 14 years for the country’s women’s tennis.
Built on a Tuesday escape
The run began a day earlier with a rescue act. In the first round, Maaya trailed eighth seed Katarzyna Kawa 5-2 in the deciding set before levelling at 5-5 and winning the tie-break 7-5, for a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) victory that gave her a first WTA 250 main-draw win. Against Falkowska she needed no third set.
Montgomery next
Her quarter-final opponent is Robin Montgomery of the United States, ranked No. 151. Montgomery reached the last eight by beating Jeline Vandromme 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in her own second-round match. The Chennai Open runs through 8 November at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.
Chennai Open (WTA 250), second round: Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi (IND, wild card) bt Weronika Falkowska (POL, Q) 6-4, 6-3. Quarter-final: Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi v Robin Montgomery (USA).
