Maaya Rajeshwaran Creates History, Breaks Sania Mirza’s Record With First Professional Singles Crown

Maaya Rajeshwaran Surpasses Sania Mirza’s Record, Clinches First Professional Singles Title

Indian tennis prodigy Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi made headlines on Sunday, October 11, after winning her first professional singles title at the W35 Lagos tournament in Portugal. The 17-year-old defeated Spain’s Celia Cervino Ruiz 6-4, 6-2 in the final, becoming the youngest Indian woman to win a singles championship at the W35 level and breaking a record held by Sania Mirza for more than two decades.

Maaya’s achievement echoes Mirza’s early success on the professional circuit. In 2004, Mirza won a title in Lagos at the age of 17 years and 10 months. Maaya, aged 17 years and three months, surpassed that milestone with her victory on October 11, 2026, continuing India’s tradition of producing talented young tennis players.

The landmark win represents a major breakthrough for Maaya, who has steadily established herself as one of the country’s emerging tennis prospects. Her performance in Portugal highlighted her resilience, consistency and ability to handle the pressure of competing against experienced players.

Remarkable Comeback Sets the Tone

Maaya began her campaign in the qualifying rounds and carried her momentum into the main draw, where she delivered a series of impressive performances.

Her most notable result came in the opening round against top seed Justina Mikulskyte, ranked No. 246 in the world. Despite falling behind 0-5 in the first set, Maaya mounted a remarkable comeback to win 7-6(1), 6-1.

She followed the upset with a convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory over Argentina’s Berta Bonardi in the second round. The teenager maintained her strong form in the quarter-finals, defeating eighth seed Tian Jialin 6-2, 6-1 to book her place in the last four.

Maaya then progressed to the final after British opponent Britt Du Pree conceded a walkover. In the title decider, the Indian youngster produced a composed performance against Cervino Ruiz, winning in straight sets to secure the championship.

Maaya Completes Singles-Doubles Double

The Indian teenager capped her successful week by also winning the doubles title with Ukrainian partner Yelyzaveta Kotliar.

The duo faced Min Liu and Carlotta Moccia in the final and endured a difficult start, losing the opening set 0-6. However, they responded strongly, taking the second set 6-2 before sealing victory 10-7 in the deciding super tie-break.

Claiming both titles at the same tournament made Maaya’s performance even more significant. Her maiden professional singles crown, coupled with the doubles triumph, marks an important milestone as she continues to build experience and pursue further success on the international tennis circuit.