Maaya Rajeshwaran Calls Sania Mirza Her Idol After Historic W35 Lagos Singles Title

October 12, 2026

New Delhi: Indian teenage tennis player Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi has described former world No. 1 doubles player Sania Mirza as a legend and her lifelong idol after winning her maiden professional singles title at the W35 Lagos tournament in Nigeria. The 17-year-old said the victory was an important beginning to her senior career and gave her the confidence to compete at a higher level.

Maaya achieved a double-title triumph in Lagos, winning the singles crown without dropping a set in the main draw and partnering Ukraine’s Yelyzaveta Kotliar to the doubles title. She defeated Spain’s Celia Cervino Ruiz 6-4, 6-2 in the singles final to become the youngest Indian woman to win a W35 singles title, breaking a record held by Sania Mirza for 22 years.

‘Sania Mirza will always remain a legend’

Asked about surpassing Sania’s record, Maaya dismissed the comparison and highlighted the former Grand Slam champion’s contribution to Indian tennis.

“Well, I don’t think you can actually surpass her, you know, because she’s a legend and she’ll always remain a legend,” Maaya said during a virtual media interaction.

She added that Sania had been an inspiration while she was growing up and had helped make tennis more visible in India.

Maaya said she had not spoken to Sania extensively but continued to follow her interviews and podcasts. She expressed a wish to learn from the former tennis star’s experience.

Comeback from 0-5 deficit marks turning point

Maaya entered the Lagos tournament ranked world No. 1038 and had to qualify for the main draw. Her first-round match against top seed Justina Mikulskyte proved to be a defining moment in her title run.

The Indian recovered from a 0-5 deficit in the opening set to win it 7-5 before taking the second set 6-1. Recalling the comeback, she said looking at the match clock helped her refocus.

She explained that when she realised 25 minutes had passed, she did not want to lose the set so quickly. Instead, she concentrated on playing one point at a time and staying in the contest.

Maaya said winning the first set from such a difficult position gave her momentum in the second. She continued to focus on the basic aspects of her game rather than making unnecessary changes.

She eventually defeated Cervino Ruiz 6-4, 6-2 in the final to claim her first professional singles title. In doubles, Maaya and Kotliar beat China’s Min Liu and Italy’s Carlotta Moccia 0-6, 6-2, 10-7.

‘It’s just a start’: Maaya on her professional career

Despite the breakthrough, Maaya played down the immediate significance of the title, describing it as a confidence-building experience rather than a final achievement.

She said she had entered the tournament without expectations and approached each match as an opportunity to perform to the best of her ability. According to her, the experience reinforced the importance of focusing on the match rather than rankings or opponents’ reputations.

The teenager also credited her experience in junior tournaments with helping her manage the demands of competing in both singles and doubles. She said stretching, proper nutrition and recovery were important in coping with a busy schedule.

Training in France after leaving Rafa Nadal Academy

Maaya currently trains at Elite Tennis Centre (ETC) in the south of France. She clarified that she had left the Rafa Nadal Academy a couple of months earlier and joined ETC around the time of the US Open.

Reflecting on her time around Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, Maaya described him as an inspiring presence who motivated young players before major tournaments.

She also recalled spending time on court with Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, during the summer of the previous year. She said the experience gave her access to valuable advice based on his extensive experience in tennis.

Focus on improvement and bigger tournaments

Maaya acknowledged that her junior Grand Slam performances this year had fallen short of her expectations. However, she said she viewed those results as lessons and was focused on improving rather than dwelling on setbacks.

Looking ahead, she plans to compete more regularly on the professional circuit, improve her ranking and strengthen her technical, mental and physical preparation. Although she has another year of junior eligibility remaining, she expects to combine professional tournaments with junior Grand Slams.

The teenager is also open to playing at the Chennai Open if she receives a wild card.

For now, Maaya said her priority was to keep working, trust her abilities and enjoy competing rather than set rigid targets for individual tournaments. She believes the confidence gained in Lagos can help her deliver more consistent performances against stronger opponents.