Indian teenager Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi has scripted a major milestone in Indian tennis by becoming the first Indian woman since Sania Mirza in 2012 to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA Tour-level singles event.
The 17-year-old secured her place in the last eight of the Chennai Open 2026 after defeating Poland’s Weronika Falkowska 6-4, 6-3 in the second round on Wednesday. Playing as a wildcard, Maaya produced a composed performance against the world No. 277 to register her maiden WTA Tour quarter-final appearance.
Ranked world No. 669 before the tournament, the Indian had already made an impression in the opening round by upsetting eighth seed Katarzyna Kawa. Maaya fought back from a difficult position in the deciding set to win 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5), securing her first victory over a top-120 opponent.
She carried that momentum into her encounter with Falkowska, showing confidence and control to close out the match in straight sets. The victory ended a long wait for Indian women’s singles tennis, with Mirza last reaching a WTA Tour-level quarter-final at Pattaya in February 2012.
Maaya’s breakthrough comes after an encouraging run on the professional circuit. Last month, she won her maiden professional singles title at the ITF W35 tournament in Lagos, further strengthening her progress at the senior level. She had also reached the semi-finals of the WTA 125 event in Mumbai in 2025.
The teenager will now face American Robin Montgomery in the Chennai Open quarter-finals on Friday, November 6, for a place in the semi-finals. Montgomery advanced after defeating Belgium’s Jeline Vandromme in three sets.
Maaya’s run has brought renewed attention to Indian women’s tennis, with the youngster making the most of her wildcard opportunity on home soil. A victory in the next round would take her into her first WTA Tour-level semi-final.
