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Vaishnavi Adkar Aims to Shine at Home in Prestigious Mumbai WTA Open

Indian tennis player Vaishnavi Adkar has been granted a wild card entry into the main draw of the upcoming L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K series. The 21-year-old, who is Maharashtra's top women's singles player, views the home tournament as a crucial opportunity to gain experience against elite competition. Adkar expressed excitement about playing in front of supportive local fans, whose energy she hopes to channel into her performance. She plans to focus on specific aspects of her game, like her serve, while learning from higher-ranked opponents during the event.

Key Points: Vaishnavi Adkar Gets Wild Card for L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K

  • Wild card entry for home favorite
  • Aims to learn from top-ranked players
  • First Indian woman to win World University bronze
  • Tournament runs Feb 2-8 in Mumbai
3 min read

Vaishnavi Adkar looks to make her mark on home soil at 2026 L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K series

Maharashtra's top player Vaishnavi Adkar receives a wild card for the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K, aiming to impress on home soil.

"It's really enjoyable to play in front of my home fans. The energy is unmatched... - Vaishnavi Adkar"

Mumbai, January 29

Homegrown talent and Maharashtra's No.1 Women's Singles player, Vaishnavi Adkar, has been given a Wild Card into the Main Draw at the upcoming L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series, which will be held at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association in Mumbai.

The Qualifiers will be held on 31st January and 1st February, followed by the Main Draw, which is scheduled from 2nd to 8th February, according to a release.

At just 21, Vaishnavi Adkar has proven herself as the No.1 Women's Singles player of her state and has impressive wins under her belt. She claimed her maiden ITF Pro Singles Title at the W15 Women's Tennis Championship in Ahmedabad in 2024.

She cemented her reputation as a promising young athlete when she won the bronze medal at the World University Tennis Championship in Germany last year, also becoming the first-ever Indian woman to do so.

Hailing from Pune, Maharashtra, the L&T Mumbai Open is set to be a special experience for Vaishnavi Adkar as she looks to impress her local crowd.

She stated, "It's really enjoyable to play in front of my home fans. The energy is unmatched, and the atmosphere is always positive and encouraging. When you hear people cheering for you, it gives you that extra boost, especially in tight moments. I feel proud to play in Maharashtra and represent India, and I'm really thankful to everyone who comes out to support us. I aim to channelise this energy and maximise my performance in the upcoming L&T Mumbai Open."

She went on to thank the MSLTA and L&T Mumbai Open for giving her the platform to face elite competition when she said, "Personally, my rank is not high enough to get into the WTA events directly. So having the L&T Mumbai Open here in Maharashtra, really helps to get the exposure that I need against the higher-ranked players, and for this, I would really like to thank MSLTA, President Prashant Sutar and Hon Secretary Sunder Iyer."

Looking ahead at the upcoming tournament, Vaishnavi Adkar shared, "I want to focus on a few important aspects like my serve and controlling the baseline. This tournament is going to help me observe and better understand what the higher-ranked players are doing differently, as I hope to pick up a few lessons and improve my game and in the process, make the most out of the opportunity that I've been given."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is exactly what Indian tennis needs. More WTA events in India give our players a chance without the huge financial burden of traveling abroad. Kudos to MSLTA and L&T for organizing this. Hope Vaishnavi makes a deep run!
A
Aman W
First Indian woman to win a bronze at the World University Championship? That's a massive achievement that hasn't gotten enough attention. She's clearly got the talent. The wild card is well-deserved. Go Vaishnavi!
S
Sarah B
It's refreshing to see an athlete so grounded and process-oriented. Her focus is on improving her serve and learning from higher-ranked players, not just the result. That mindset will take her far. All the best from a tennis fan in the UK!
K
Karthik V
While I fully support her, I hope the federation's support doesn't end with just a wild card. She mentions her rank isn't high enough for direct entry. MSLTA needs a sustained system to help players like her travel and play more ITF events throughout the year to actually improve that ranking. One home tournament is great, but not enough.
D
Divya L
Pune pride! 🥳 So wonderful to see a Maharashtrian player getting this platform. Her journey from the ITF title in Ahmedabad to this is inspiring. Can't wait to watch her play at the MSLTA. Best of luck, Vaishnavi!

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