Who is Maaya Rajeshwaran? Know the rising star of Indian tennis who is channelling Nadal and Sania

Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi participated in the Mumbai Open 2025 as a wildcard entrant and emerged as India's promising tennis talent, poised to uphold the nation's aspirations for the foreseeable future.

The 15-year-old grabbed the tennis world’s attention during the WTA 125 tournament, where she defied all expectations by reaching the semi-finals – after starting from the qualifying rounds – in what was just her fifth professional event.

Entering the tournament without a ranking, Maaya upset much more established names like world No. 225 Iryna Shymanovich and Japan’s world No. 285 Mei Yamaguchi outright.

Maaya achieved a notable victory against Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas, a former top 50 player, in addition to her two wins. Though the victory came after Diyas retired from the match, the Indian teenager was leading the Kazakh 6-3, 3-2 at the time.

The Indian tennis player successfully defeated world No. 264 Nicole Fossa Huergo from Italy and American player Jessica Failla, ranked 434th, during the qualifiers to secure a place in the main draw.

This feat established Maaya as the first player born in 2009 or later to advance to the top four in a main-draw event of this significance. Following her remarkable performance, she will also secure a position within the top 700 rankings, thereby becoming the youngest Indian to attain a WTA ranking.

Notably, prior to the tournament, Maaya had never faced a top 300-ranked opponent, making her deep run all the more extraordinary.

Early years and background

Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi was born on June 12, 2009, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, where her introduction to tennis commenced as a leisurely pastime following her school hours. However, it quickly turned into a serious pursuit when she was just eight years old.

Maaya’s natural talent and passion for the sport led her to train under former India No. 1 KG Ramesh before going on to join the Pro Serve Tennis Academy under coach Manoj Kumar to further her development.

By the age of 10, Maaya had already envisioned a career in professional tennis. Several years later, she appears to be progressing steadily towards that goal.

A regular on the junior circuit since 2022, Maaya won five junior titles (four J60s and one J100) in 2023. She also earned an invitation to participate in the Under-14 showcase at the Australian Open 2023.

A year later, she made her junior Grand Slam debut in Melbourne, where she was eliminated in the first round of the qualifiers by Germany's Sonja Zhenikhova.

Maaya garnered attention by advancing to the final of the Senior National Championships in 2024, ultimately securing the runner-up position against Vaidehee Chaudhari. En route, the unseeded teenager beat more established players like Riya Bhatia among others.

In that same year, Maaya commenced her senior tennis career by participating in an ITF W15 tournament held in Egypt.

In 2025, Maaya won a J300 junior title in Delhi and broke into the top 60 of the Junior ITF rankings. It also secured her a spot in the 2025 junior Grand Slams.

Training at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy

In 2024, Maaya dedicated a week to training at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca to enhance her skills. Her impressive showing there earned her a one-year training contract with the prestigious institution.

Having the opportunity to watch Rafael Nadal train up close during the Davis Cup 2024 Finals in Mallorca also left a profound mark on the youngster. It was also the farewell event for the Spanish legend.

“It's one of my most favourite memories. Even a man that's won so much, he's still got that hunger and that's really impressive," Maaya told the WTA.

Incidentally, Maaya’s game style also draws heavily from Nadal. Similar to the Spanish legend, the Indian teenager exhibits an aggressive approach from the baseline, utilizing her strong groundstrokes to control the flow of rallies.

Among the Indian tennis players, Maaya looks up to Sania Mirza, who is recognized as India’s most accomplished female tennis player. Motivated by Mirza’s groundbreaking career, Maaya is resolute in her ambition to make a significant impact on the singles circuit.

Maaya, a student with a passion for history and an enthusiasm for trekking, aspires to follow Mirza's footsteps and win Grand Slams. Reaching the World No. 1 in the WTA Rankings one day also features prominently on her agenda.

Cover Credits - ESPN