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India will host the Chennai Open, a WTA 250 tournament, starting October 27 after a three-year hiatus.
Linda Fruhvirtova won the inaugural Chennai Open 2022 title (X)
India is set to host the Chennai Open, a WTA 250 tournament, after a three-year hiatus, the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) announced on Monday. The main draw will commence on October 27.
The tournament last appeared on the WTA calendar in 2022, when Linda Fruhvirtova from the Czech Republic won the singles title.
“Finally, our efforts to bring a major international sporting event to Chennai have paid off, thanks to the strong support of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT),” said TNTA President Vijay Amritraj.
“The event will be broadcast on a major sports channel. I look forward to the enthusiastic participation of the Chennai public in making this event a grand success,” he added.
The Chennai Open has marked a significant milestone in the history of women’s tennis in India, debuting as a WTA 250 tournament in September 2022. It was the first WTA-level event in India since 2008.
The tournament, hosted at Chennai’s SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam, was part of a one-year WTA licence granted due to cancellations in China, bringing world-class tennis back to the region.
Led by TNTA President and tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, with robust support from the Tamil Nadu government, the event featured a 32-player singles draw, a 16-team doubles draw, and a prize pool of approximately US $250,000.
The tournament garnered strong local support, with fans returning to the stadium and reigniting Chennai’s passion for tennis, although some improvements in facilities and organisation were noted.
Off the court, the tournament has sparked optimism for women’s tennis in India. Experts and coaches believe it could have a “trickle-down” effect by raising visibility, encouraging grassroots development, and inspiring a new generation, provided international events continue to be part of the national calendar.
(with agency inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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