Who Is Maaya Rajeshwaran? Meet 17-Year-Old Indian Tennis Star Who Broke Sania Mirza's Record at ITF W35 Lagos 2026

Indian tennis has a new rising star as Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, at just 17 years and three months old, secured her first professional singles title at the ITF W35 Lagos tournament in Portugal on Sunday, October 11, 2026. This historic victory saw her defeat Spain's Celia Cervino Ruiz in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, and establish herself as the youngest Indian woman to win a W35-level singles crown, eclipsing a long-standing record set by tennis legend Sania Mirza 22 years ago. Who Is Jay Meena? Know About Trailblazing Athlete Behind India’s Historic Asian Games 2026 Soft Tennis Medal.

Maaya Rajeshwaran with Maiden Pro Singles Title at W35 Lagos

Maaya Rajeshwaran lifts both the Singles and Doubles trophies at the W35 Lagos. A proud moment for Tamil Nadu tennis. 🇮🇳

#TNTennis #SDAT #TamilNaduSports #ProudMoment https://t.co/cBZMe6l5pp

— Sports Tamil Nadu (@SportsTN_) October 12, 2026

Rajeshwaran's triumph is a significant milestone, drawing striking parallels to Mirza's breakthrough moment in 2004. Both players were 17 when they achieved their respective maiden professional titles in Lagos, with Mirza winning in Lagos, Nigeria, on October 10, 2004. However, Maaya’s age of 17 years and three months at the time of her victory surpasses Mirza's age of 17 years and 10 months when she claimed her title.

Dominant Run in Lagos

Ranked 1038 in the WTA rankings prior to the tournament, Maaya's journey to the title was nothing short of spectacular. She began her campaign in the qualifying rounds and did not drop a single set throughout the main draw. Her formidable run included an upset victory over top seed Justina Mikulskyte, then ranked World No. 246, in the opening round, where she remarkably recovered from a 0-5 deficit in the first set to win 7-6(1), 6-1. She followed this with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win against Argentina's Berta Bonardi in the second round and defeated eighth seed Tian Jialin 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, Maaya received a walkover from Netherlands' Britt Du Pree, propelling her into the final against Celia Cervino Ruiz, where she maintained her composure to secure the 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Double Delight and Future Prospects

Adding to her memorable week, Maaya Rajeshwaran also clinched the doubles title at the W35 Lagos tournament, partnering with Ukraine's Yelyzaveta Kotliar. The pair overcame Min Liu and Carlotta Moccia in a thrilling final, recovering from a set down to win 0-6, 6-2, 10-7 in a deciding super tie-break.

Born on June 12, 2009, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi has been steadily building her career, notably reaching the semi-finals of the WTA 125 Mumbai Open as a 15-year-old wildcard in February 2025. Her talent has led her to train at prestigious institutions, including the Rafa Nadal Academy and, more recently, the Elite Tennis Centre in Cannes, France. Carlos Alcaraz Retains Japan Open Title, Beats Jiri Lehecka in Final After Injury Comeback.

Speaking about breaking Sania Mirza's record, Maaya humbly stated, "I don't think you can actually surpass her, you know, because she's a legend and she'll always remain a legend." She added that Mirza remains an idol, someone who made tennis visible in India for her generation. This double title win marks a significant step in Maaya's burgeoning professional career, providing a strong confidence boost as she looks to compete in more senior events and climb the world rankings.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2026 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).