Mumbai Open Tennis Championships, organized by Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) and Cricket Club of India (CCI) is returning after a hiatus of six years. It has been announced that players from 31 countries will be seen in action.
WTA Mumbai Open returns
This marks the third edition of the WTA Mumbai Open with past singles champions including world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka (2017) and Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum (2018).
The line-up at the third edition of the tournament will include three top 100 players in the singles and six top 100 players in the doubles event, which is a part of the WTA $125K series.
American Kayla Day, the 2016 US Open girls singles champion and world No. 82, will lead the 32-player field, along with Japan’s Nao Hibino, winner of three WTA Tour singles titles, and former French Open semifinalist Tamara Zidansek, ranked 97th in the world.
Other players in the field include American Katie Volynets, Australians Arina Rodionova and Kimberly Birrell and Brazil’s Laura Pigossi.
Last year’s top-ranked junior in the world, the 16-year-old Russian Alina Korneeva will also be seen in action in Mumbai. She had reached the third round of the 2024 Australian Open women’s singles event just 12 months after winning the girl’s singles title,
India’s top-ranked doubles player Prarthana Thombare and Dutch partner Arianne Hartono have a direct entry into the doubles event. Wild cards for the tournament are expected to be announced in the next few days.
“We are delighted to bring back world class tennis to Mumbai after a gap of a few years. The WTA Mumbai Open has attracted some big names and rising stars in the past, including two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, who won her first WTA $125K title right here in Mumbai in 2017,” Sanjay Khandare and Pravin Darade, both IAS and members of the Organising Committee said.
“We have a strong field this year as well with the likes of Kayla Day, Nao Hibino and Tamara Zidansek in the field as well as the rising Russian Alina Korneeva. We hope tennis fans in Mumbai will come out in flocks to support the players and the tournament,” they added.
The tournament will emanate from the newly laid tennis courts at the Cricket Club of India. Qualifying matches will take place starting February 3 and 4 while the main draw action will start on February 5. The finals will be played on February 11.
