Maaya Rajeshwaran’s Chennai Open Run Ends in Quarterfinals

Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi’s memorable Chennai Open campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals on Friday as the Indian teenager lost 3-6, 3-6 to American Robin Montgomery. Despite the defeat, the 17-year-old produced her best WTA Tour campaign and became the first Indian since Sania Mirza in 2012 to reach the singles quarterfinals of a WTA Tour-level event.

Rajeshwaran began the week ranked 669th in the world, and her run in Chennai is expected to take her inside the top 500. Her tournament ended India’s singles challenge, but her progress offered a significant marker in the country’s women’s tennis landscape.

Montgomery recovers after Rajeshwaran’s early break

Rajeshwaran began with intent against Montgomery, a former top-100 player ranked 151st. She attacked her higher-ranked opponent and initially served better than she had in her previous match, while also putting the left-handed American under pressure with her returning.

In the fifth game of the opening set, Rajeshwaran pushed Montgomery to deuce and earned a break point after drawing a forehand error. Montgomery saved that chance, but Rajeshwaran continued to press and secured the first break when the American netted a backhand.

The advantage did not last. Montgomery responded by pinning Rajeshwaran into the backhand corner and striking a double-handed backhand winner to break back. She then held serve to move 4-3 ahead in the set.

Rajeshwaran’s first-serve issues subsequently affected her attacking game. She saved one break point, but a third double fault of the match gave Montgomery another opportunity. The American converted after a return error from Rajeshwaran, moved 5-3 ahead and served out the opening set.

Montgomery maintained her control in the second set to complete the straight-set win and book her place in the semifinals. She will next face defending champion and Indonesian top seed Janice Tjen, who defeated sixth seed Polina Kudermetova 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

A breakthrough week for Indian tennis

While Rajeshwaran could not extend her run into the final four, her Chennai performance carried considerable importance. She had shown a willingness to take on higher-ranked opponents, using her strokes and attacking instincts throughout the event. Her quarterfinal appearance was India’s first at this level since Mirza’s run in 2012.

The next step for Rajeshwaran will be to build on the progress during the 2026 season, with physical development and improvements to her serve identified as key areas. Her ranking rise is another tangible reward from a week in which she moved beyond the early rounds and competed against a player with Montgomery’s experience.

Rajeshwaran’s loss meant the end of India’s singles representation at the tournament. Vaishnavi Adkar had earlier lost 3-6, 0-6 to seventh seed Anastasia Zakharova in the second round, while Sahaja Yamalapalli exited in the opening round following a 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 defeat to Switzerland’s Simona Waltert.

India remains represented in the doubles draw. Rajeshwaran and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty are in the quarterfinals, as are Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale. Elsewhere in doubles, second seeds Weronika Falkowska and Alana Smith beat Gabriella Da Silva Fick and Zhibek Kulambayeva 3-6, 7-5, 10-5, while Naima Karamoko and Waltert defeated top seeds Momoko Kobori and Peangtarn Plipuech 6-4, 7-6 (5) to reach the semifinals.