India's No. 1 Rutuja Bhosale headlines doubles Main Draw for Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series
Mumbai, Feb 3
The Doubles Main Draw for the fifth edition of the Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series was revealed at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association on Tuesday. India's Rutuja Bhosale will team up with Thailand's Peangtarn Plipuech, seeded number one, in the tournament scheduled from February 4 to 8 at MSLTA.
India's No. 4 and No. 5 Women's Doubles players, Ankita Raina and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, will team up to face France's Leolia Jeanjean and Japan's Naima Karamoko. Meanwhile, India's No. 2 Women's Doubles player, Prarthana Thombare, will partner with 21-year-old Alevtina Ibragimova. They will compete against the second seed pair, Elena Pridanika (ranked World No. 75 in Doubles) and Polina Iatcenko.
Rutuja aims to win this tournament, having nearly advanced in her last two events-reaching the semi-finals at the Maharashtra Open and finishing as Runner-Up in the WTA 125K Series in Jinan, China. She and Plipuech will face Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Argentina's Nicole Fossa Huergo.
Speaking about the Mumbai Open happening at the MSLTA, the 29-year-old said, "I have been playing at MSLTA since I was 10 years old, so to see a WTA event happening here, it simply feels unreal. It's extremely exciting to see venues like the MSLTA provide a platform for the growth of tennis in India."
Prarthana Thombare, the runner-up in the last edition, aims to build on her recent success at the Mumbai Open. After an impressive 2025, which saw her reach the semi-finals of the WTA 125K Series in Turkey and finish as the runner-up in WTA Newport, USA, she is eager to capitalize on the support of her home crowd advantage.
Speaking about playing in the Mumbai Open, Thombare said, "It's very enjoyable and joyful to be playing in India, especially in Maharashtra. It's a very special tournament it's my fourth year. It's great to be back in Mumbai for another edition and hopefully, I can lift the trophy this time."
Darja Semenistaja, the 2024 Singles champion, will compete in doubles alongside Zuzzana Pawlikowska, facing Japan's Hiroko Kuwata and South Korea's Sohyun Park. Mananchaya Sawangkaew, last season's Singles Runner Up, and Leolia Jeanjean, the current third seed in the Singles draw, will also participate in the doubles event.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Fantastic to see such a strong Indian contingent. Ankita Raina and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty teaming up is a smart move. We need more home-grown pairs to climb the rankings together. The home crowd advantage is real, hope they all feel the energy! 🎾
Prarthana Thombare was the runner-up last time and has had a solid 2025. She's due for a win! Playing at home in Maharashtra must be a special feeling. Hope she and her young partner can take down the second seeds. All the best!
Interesting to see the mix of Indian players partnering with international athletes. The Thailand-India top seed pair (Bhosale/Plipuech) shows how tennis builds global connections. Great for the sport's growth in the region.
While it's exciting, I do wish there was more coverage and hype for our women tennis players beyond the big names like Sania. These WTA 125K events in Mumbai are crucial platforms. Hope the stands are full to support them!
Rutuja's recent form is promising! Semi-finals and a runner-up finish is no small feat. The momentum is with her. Let's bring the trophy home this time. Jai Maharashtra! 🏆
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