Chennai Open 2026: Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli and Maaya Rajeshwaran Receive Main-Draw Wild Cards

Indian tennis players Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi have been awarded main-draw wild cards for the Chennai Open WTA 250 International Women’s Tennis Championships 2026, giving three domestic talents an opportunity to compete against an international field on home soil.

The tournament, scheduled from November 2 to 8 at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam, Chennai, will feature a 32-player singles main draw alongside qualifying and doubles competitions. The organisers have also awarded the fourth main-draw wild card to American Katherine Hui, the 2023 US Open junior girls’ singles champion, completing the allocation of all four wild cards.

The selections underline the tournament’s role in providing Indian players with opportunities to compete at the WTA Tour level. With the new edition approaching, the three Indian entrants will look to make the most of home conditions against a field featuring established international professionals and emerging talents.

Vaishnavi Adkar, 21, and Sahaja Yamalapalli, 25, will enter the main draw through wild cards after featuring in the previous edition with contrasting experiences.

Vaishnavi, who was ranked No. 332 at the time of the previous tournament, qualified for the main draw in 2025. Her return provides another opportunity to test herself against WTA-level opposition, this time with direct entry into the main draw.

Sahaja, who was ranked No. 368 during the previous edition, progressed to the second round. That experience could prove valuable as she prepares for another appearance at the Chennai tournament, where she will have the opportunity to build on her previous performance.

For both players, the wild cards remove the need to navigate qualifying and guarantee a place in the singles main draw. This gives them an opportunity to prepare specifically for their opening-round opponents and compete for valuable ranking points.

Tamil Nadu Tennis Association president Vijay Amritraj expressed confidence in the Indian selections, highlighting the advantage of playing at home.

“I am confident that Vaishnavi, Sahaja and Maaya will use the home conditions to do well in the prestigious WTA 250 event,” Amritraj said.

Maaya Rajeshwaran Arrives After Strong Form

The inclusion of 17-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi is another significant development for Indian tennis. The young player has been in encouraging form, recently winning both the singles and doubles titles at a W35 tournament in Portugal, according to the tournament announcement.

Her results provide momentum ahead of one of the biggest opportunities of her young career. Moving from the ITF circuit to a WTA 250 main draw will present a different level of competition, with the prospect of facing higher-ranked and more experienced opponents.

Maaya’s wild card gives her direct access to that challenge. At 17, competing in a WTA Tour event offers an opportunity to gain experience against players accustomed to the physical and tactical demands of professional tennis.

Her recent success in Portugal will provide confidence, although the Chennai Open will require her to adapt quickly to a different field and tournament environment.

The fourth wild card has gone to Katherine Hui of the United States, who won the girls’ singles title at the 2023 US Open junior championships. Her inclusion adds another promising player to the main draw. Junior Grand Slam champions often enter the professional circuit with significant competitive experience, but the transition to senior tennis brings new demands in consistency, movement and match management.

With Hui’s selection, all four main-draw wild cards have been allocated. The three Indian entrants will have the opportunity to represent the home challenge, while Hui will join the international field seeking a strong run in Chennai.

Defending Champion Janice Tjen Leads the Field

The 2026 Chennai Open will also see defending champion Janice Tjen return to the tournament. The Indonesian, listed as the top seed and ranked World No. 47 in the supplied tournament information, won both the singles and doubles titles in 2025.

Her return gives the tournament a leading name to follow as the draw takes shape. Other notable players listed among the expected seeds include Lilli Tagger, Lanlana Tararudee, Tatjana Maria and Magda Linette.

The field is expected to provide a competitive test for the Indian wild-card entrants, who will be aiming to take advantage of the opportunity to face players with experience on the WTA Tour.

The tournament information also notes that Petra Marčinko withdrew and was replaced by Rebecca Šramková. The Chennai Open is scheduled to be played on outdoor hard courts, with a listed prize purse of $283,347. The tournament’s 32-player singles draw, qualifying competition and 16-team doubles event will bring together players at different stages of their professional careers.

For Vaishnavi, Sahaja and Maaya, the wild cards offer more than a place in the draw. They provide a chance to compete at home, gain exposure to elite international opposition and pursue results that could support their progress on the professional circuit.

The challenge will be demanding, but the three players arrive with different strengths: Vaishnavi brings previous main-draw experience, Sahaja returns after reaching the second round in 2025, and Maaya arrives following a notable doubles and singles title sweep in Portugal.

With the tournament beginning on November 2, attention will now turn to the draw and the opening-round match-ups. For Indian tennis, the presence of three domestic wild cards gives the Chennai Open an added storyline as the country’s players seek to make their mark on home soil.