Indian tennis player Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi has made a winning debut at the US Open junior girls' singles, advancing to the second round with a hard-fought victory over China's Zhang-Qian Wei. The unseeded 16-year-old, a native of Coimbatore, secured her spot after a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win that lasted just over an hour and a half at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.
The win is the latest milestone for the rising Indian talent, who has been training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. Earlier this year, Revathi gained attention after an impressive run to the semifinals of the WTA 125 Mumbai Open. In that tournament, she came through qualifying to defeat three players ranked in the top 300, a significant achievement for a player born in 2009.
While Revathi moved on, it was a different story for other Indian juniors in the boys’ singles event. India's top-ranked junior Kriish Tyagi bowed out in the first round after a 3-6, 1-6 loss to Sweden's Ludvig Hede. Hitesh Chauhan also faced an early exit, falling 2-6, 4-6 to American Jerrid Gaines Jr.
In her first-round match at the US Open, Revathi showcased composure and skill, particularly on her first and second serves, to overcome her Chinese opponent. Her next challenge will be a significant one, as she is set to face the second-seeded Hannah Klugman of the United Kingdom. Klugman entered the tournament with a strong start, posting a commanding 6-0, 6-2 win in her opening round.
Despite the setbacks for Tyagi and Chauhan, Revathi’s breakthrough moment at a Grand Slam highlights her potential on the international stage. Her victory is a promising sign for Indian tennis, with fans now looking to the young prodigy as a new hope for the future of the sport.