An MSLTA initiative

Mumbai: The action packed fourth edition of the L&T Mumbai Open slated to be held from the first week of February, 2025 in Mumbai will witness action from the most talented and upcoming players from 30 countries across the globe.

The event which will be organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) under the auspices of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and All India Tennis Association (AITA) will be held on the  at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) Hard Courts with the qualification round in the Single category starting from 1st February. The Main Draw of the Singles event will begin on 3rd February and that of the Doubles on 4th February and will conclude with the grand finals scheduled on 9th February.

2024 L&T Mumbai Open champion Darja Semenistaja of Latvia, who currently holds a rank of 120, will be back to defend her crown. In a well-fought final, Semenistaja had defeated the Australian Storm Hunter 5–7, 7-6, (8-6), 6–2 to clinch the Women’s Singles crown.

Among the other top names involved in the WTA 125 tournament will be Germany’s Tatjana Maria, who is ranked 89 in the world and reached the second round of the 2025 season’s first Grand Slam Australian Open. The right-handed Tatjana, who has achieved a career-high ranking of 42, reaching a Wimbledon semi-final as the sixth female player in the Open Era over the age of 34 in 2022, will be aiming to clinch her fourth singles title in her career.

Along with her, Rebecca Marino from Canada, with a world rank of 98 will headline the singles draw. The 34 year old 6’ 3” tall player who achieved her highest WTA singles ranking of world No. 38 in 2011, and lost a three set tie breaker in the opening round of the Australian Open 2025 last week will hope to put aside her disappointment and win her second WTA singles title in space of three months, after having aced the Dow Tennis Classic in USA last November.

Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz (World Rank 104) who has been ranked as high as world no. 45 in her career, and has won three WTA Challenger titles in her career. Nuria started the year on a strong note having reached the semi-final of the WTA 125 Workday Canberra International in Australia  and will be hoping to build on her momentum in Mumbai, following her opening round two sets loss in Australian Open recently.

Harriet Dart (World Rank 113), who previously played a Wimbledon Mixed-doubles final in 2021, and  helped Great Britain reach the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup in 2022 and 2024. Not alien to the courts in Mumbai, Dart is aiming for her first WTA 125 title ever. 

Among the Future stars  19-year-old Alexandra Eala of Philippines who has been selected  by Rafael Nadal to train at his academy  is also one to watch out for.  Ranked 138, Alexandra has won one singles and two doubles Junior Grand Slams and is the highest ranked Filipino player ever. She had an early crash out in the Australian Open this year but will be hoping to bounce back at the L&T Mumbai Open in February. Petra Marcinko Former World No 1 Junior from Croatia and a former Australian Junior Double crown winner is one of the young guns to have entered the event.

In view of a pretty strong field for the tournament top Indian players of the likes of  Ankita Raina, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Bhamidipaty Shrivalli Rashmikaa, Chaudhari Vaidehi, Rutuja Bhosale whose world rankings are 296 plus are expected be receive wildcards for the Singles Round -32 Main draw, while other Indian players can aspire to give their best in the qualifying round.

Sanjay Khandare and Pravin Darade, both IAS officers and Core members of the Organising Committee, said that it will be an exciting week of tennis for fans in Mumbai. “After a fantastic three editions in the previous years which saw 2024 Australian Open champion and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka winning the 2017 edition of the Mumbai Open as a teenager. The same was , followed by Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum (2018) and more recently Latvian Darja Semeņistaja (2024) who emerged worthy winners, we are once again looking forward to witnessing riveting contests through the week  The courts at CCI have played host to some of the top names, and we are confident that this year will be an eventful one as well,” said Sanjay Khandare and Pravin Darade.

Photo Above: Darja Semenistaja of Latvia who came back from a set and a break down and saved a championship point on the way to her first WTA 125 singles title at the L & T Mumbai Open last year will defend her title