At 15, youngsters are generally in that phase where they are still figuring out what they want to do.
But not Maaya Rajeshwaran. She’s far from the average teenager and has already earned a scholarship to the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, and on Sunday made history by becoming the youngest Indian to earn a WTA point when she qualified for the singles main draw of the L&T Mumbai Open.
On Tuesday at the Cricket Club of India here, she gave yet another glimpse of why she was highly rated, by ousting Belarusian World No. 225 Iryna Shymanovich – as high as 154 in June 2023 – 6-4, 6-1 to enter the second round.
In a power-packed performance, the Indian broke Shymanovich decisively in the 10th game of the first set, and in the second and sixth games of the second before closing out the match with consecutive aces.
“So far, it’s been good,” Maaya told The Hindu on Tuesday on her tennis journey so far. “I need to improve my intensity while playing. At the senior level, even if they [opponents] don’t play their best on a particular day, they’ll still find a way to win. I can’t afford to be careless. If I drop my intensity, they will beat me.”
But her experience at the Rafa Nadal Academy – and the forthcoming stint – should hold her in good stead.
“I’m really happy they took me in, as we were looking for a base in Europe,” she said. “I’m officially joining this year, but I’ve already trained there for the last two to three months. It’s a very professional environment for athletes.”
Maaya, who has set herself the goal of playing the three remaining junior Grand Slams and breaking into the top-10 by year-end, stated that World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was her idol. “She’s a very aggressive player with a tough mindset, and I really look up to her”.
Published - February 04, 2025 11:47 pm IST
