India's teen tennis sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran ready for next level after Wimbledon debut

Dubai: Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi grabbed national attention last year when a photo of her playing tennis under the watchful eyes of legend Rafael Nadal went viral.

The 16-year-old from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, is quickly climbing the ranks in the tennis world. This year, she made her debut at the Wimbledon juniors, signaling her growing presence on the international stage. After defeating China’s Shiye Ye in the first round of the qualifiers, Maaya put up a spirited fight against Spain’s Eugenia Menendez in a three-set thriller. Though she eventually bowed out, Menendez went on to reach the semi-finals—highlighting the caliber of Maaya’s competition.

Inspired by tennis icons Rafael Nadal and India’s Sania Mirza, Maaya picked up a racket at age eight and turned professional just two years later. Her early promise on the junior circuit caught global attention, including that of the Rafa Nadal Academy, where she now trains.

She first entered the spotlight on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit at age 13, and by 14 had notched up wins in tournaments held in Chennai and Hyderabad. Her performances have already taken her to several junior Grand Slam qualifiers.

Maaya is also making waves on the senior circuit. She recently became the youngest Indian to earn a WTA point and made a striking impression at the Mumbai Open, defeating experienced players such as Iryna Shymanovich, Mei Yamaguchi, and former World No. 31 Zarina Diyas. The WTA noted that she is “the first player born in 2009 to reach this stage of a main draw at this level.”

As of May 19, 2025, Maaya holds a WTA singles ranking of 653, with her career-high being 642. On the ITF Junior Rankings, she currently sits at No. 57, having peaked at No. 56 earlier this year on January 20.