Indian junior tennis prodigy Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi created history at the ITF W35 Lagos tournament in Nigeria, clinching both the singles and doubles titles to complete a stunning title double on the professional circuit. At 17 years and 3 months, she became the youngest Indian woman to win a W35-level singles title, surpassing the record previously held by the legendary Sania Mirza, who had achieved the milestone at 17 years and 10 months.

A Flawless Singles Run

Ranked World No. 1038 at the time of the tournament, Maaya delivered a near-perfect performance in the singles draw, winning the title without dropping a single set across her four completed matches. The dominant display underscored her growing prowess on the professional circuit and signalled the emergence of a serious contender in Indian women's tennis.

Doubles Crown to Complete the Double

Partnering with Ukraine's Yelyzaveta Kotliar, Maaya then claimed the women's doubles title in a comeback victory over China's Min Liu and Italy's Carlotta Moccia. The pair's resilience in the doubles final added further lustre to what was already a landmark week for the teenage Indian.

Fadnavis Leads the Praise

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the first prominent voices to celebrate the achievement, sharing his congratulations on social media platform X. “Heartiest congratulations to Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi on scripting history with a sensational double-title triumph at the ITF W35 Lagos tournament in Portugal, becoming the youngest Indian woman to win a W35-level singles title while also clinching the doubles crown at just 17! A remarkable achievement that reflects her talent, determination and rising stature in Indian tennis,” Fadnavis wrote. He added: “May this landmark achievement be the beginning of many more victories, bringing pride to the nation. Best wishes for a bright and successful future!”

Maaya on Sania Mirza: ‘She’ll Always Remain a Legend’

Asked about surpassing Sania Mirza's long-standing record, Maaya was measured and gracious in her response during a virtual media interaction. “I don’t think you can actually surpass her, you know, because she’s a legend and she’ll always remain a legend,” she said. “So I think it’s just that I still do look up to her in a lot of ways because I think she was the idol when I was growing up in the country and she’s someone who’s made tennis visible in the country after so many years.”

Maaya, who has followed Sania’s journey through interviews and podcasts, acknowledged limited personal interaction with the icon but expressed a clear desire to learn from her. “I haven’t really spoken to her that much. But I wish I could. But otherwise, yeah, I still look up to her, hear all her podcasts, hear all her interviews. And yeah, I think with Sania, she’ll remain a legend and she’ll forever be my idol,” she said.

This comes amid a broader resurgence of interest in Indian women’s tennis, with a new generation of players beginning to make their mark on the international circuit. Maaya’s achievement at Lagos on 12 October 2026 is arguably the most significant milestone in Indian women’s junior tennis since Sania Mirza’s own early breakthrough, and sets the stage for a compelling trajectory on the WTA circuit in the years ahead.