Maaya Rajeshwaran Makes History, Surpasses Sania Mirza’s Record With Maiden Pro Singles Title

Maaya Rajeshwaran Creates Tennis History, Breaks Sania Mirza’s Long-Standing Record With Maiden Pro Singles Title

India’s rising tennis talent Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi achieved a major milestone on Sunday, October 11, by claiming her maiden 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 title at the W35 level and surpassing a record held by former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza for 22 years.

The achievement draws a parallel with Mirza’s breakthrough in 2004, when she won a title in Lagos at the age of 17. Maaya secured her victory in Portugal on October 11, 2026, while Mirza’s triumph came on October 10, 2004. At 17 years and three months, Maaya was younger than Mirza, who was 17 years and 10 months old when she achieved the feat.

The title represents an important step forward in Maaya’s developing career and strengthens her reputation as one of India’s promising young tennis players. Her performances in Portugal demonstrated her ability to challenge established opponents and deliver under pressure on the professional circuit.

Maaya’s Impressive Journey to the Lagos Title

Maaya entered the tournament through the qualifying rounds before producing a string of impressive performances in the main draw.

Her campaign gained momentum with a stunning first-round victory over top seed Justina Mikulskyte, ranked No. 246 in the world. The Indian teenager recovered from a difficult start, trailing 0-5 in the opening set, before turning the contest around to win 7-6(1), 6-1.

She continued her dominant run in the second round, defeating Argentina’s Berta Bonardi 6-2, 6-0. In the quarter-finals, Maaya overcame eighth seed Tian Jialin 6-2, 6-1 to secure her place in the semi-finals.

Her route to the final became easier when British player Britt Du Pree withdrew, handing Maaya a walkover. In the championship match, she maintained her composure against Spain’s Celia Cervino Ruiz, winning 6-4, 6-2 to lift her first professional singles trophy.

Doubles Triumph Completes a Memorable Week

Maaya’s success was not limited to singles. She also won the doubles title alongside Ukrainian partner Yelyzaveta Kotliar, completing a memorable double at the tournament.

The pair recovered from a difficult opening set against Min Liu and Carlotta Moccia, losing the first set 0-6 before fighting back to win the second 6-2. They then secured the championship with a 10-7 victory in the deciding super tie-break.

Winning both the singles and doubles titles in the same week marks a significant achievement for the Indian teenager. Her breakthrough performance in Portugal offers further encouragement for Indian tennis as Maaya continues her transition into professional competition.