Teenage Titans and Seasoned Stars: Meet the Powerhouse Women Rewriting Indian Tennis

India's women's tennis is witnessing a renaissance, as a new crop of players emerge from modest backgrounds to make their presence felt in the international arena. The latest star to make the headlines is 15-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, who became the youngest Indian to make it to a WTA 125 semi-final at the 2025 Mumbai Open, earning her maiden WTA ranking and international recognition. Based in the Rafa Nadal Academy, Maaya's Cinderella story is bringing about a wave of inspiration among girls across the nation.

 

Players such as Ankita Raina, now India's No. 1 woman in singles and doubles, are continuing to set examples, having achieved a singles best-achievement ranking of 160 and bronze at the 2018 Asian Games. Karman Kaur Thandi and Pranjala Yadlapalli, both of whom were national No. 1s, have also broken into the WTA top 200, while Sahaja Yamalapalli and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty are quickly rising through the ranks, recently contributing to India's earning a World Group playoff spot in the Billie Jean King Cup 2025.

 

In spite of setbacks such as lack of sponsorship and injury issues, these women are redefining the script through sheer determination, enhanced fitness, and increasing support networks. Their achievement is not only putting India on the global tennis map but also encouraging a new generation to dream bigger, work harder, and believe that the journey from local courts to the world stage is indeed possible.

 

Source: Olympics.com, Times of India, Indian Express