US Open: Indian teen prodigy Maaya Rajeshwaran turns heads despite 2nd-round exit

Teenage prodigy Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi proved she belongs at the highest level with a gritty showing against second seed Hannah Klugman of Great Britain in the second round of junior girls’ singles at the US Open on Tuesday, September 2. Maaya, 16, nearly caused an upset, running Klugman close before going down 7-6(1), 4-6, 3-6 in a match that lasted two hours and two minutes at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Maaya, who had received a full-time scholarship to train at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, had beaten China’s Zhang Qian-Wei 7-6, 6-3 in the opening round of her maiden main draw appearance at a Grand Slam. However, she fell short against No. 2 seed and junior World No. 5 Klugman in the second round.

The teenager from Coimbatore showed why she is being seen as India’s next big hope in tennis, flaunting her forehand power and backhand precision in what appears to be a well-rounded game. After racing to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, Maaya allowed Klugman to bounce back to 3-4, but displayed remarkable composure to clinch the first-set tie-break. Her ability to hit big forehand winners, inspired by her idol Sania Mirza, left her opponent surprised, though consistency proved costly on the big stage.

Maaya matched Klugman on first-serve win percentage (63% to 66%) but struggled on second serves, winning just 14% of points compared to Klugman’s 36%. Still, the experience of competing at a Grand Slam main draw at 16 will prove invaluable as she continues to develop.

Maaya’s parents were in the stands, alongside her coach, watching their daughter push one of the world’s top juniors to the limit. Her proud father, who once watched her pick up a racquet and hit balls in their backyard, was heard shouting instructions in Tamil, cheering her on at one of the biggest courts in the world.

RAPID RISE

Earlier this year, Maaya grabbed headlines with a stirring run from qualifying to the semifinals of the WTA 125K Mumbai Open, defeating three Top 300 players and becoming the first player born in 2009 to reach the semifinals of a WTA 125K event.

Her rise did not go unnoticed: impressed by her talent, the Rafa Nadal Academy flew her to Mallorca for a stint at the end of last year, eventually offering her a full-time scholarship. Since then, she has been honing her skills under the supervision of the Academy’s coaches, with guidance from Toni Nadal and even occasional attention from Rafael Nadal himself.

“My ultimate ambition in tennis is to become world number one and win Grand Slams,” Maaya said in an exclusive interview earlier this year.

“I know that’s what every player says, but for me, it’s about more than just titles. By the time I end my career, I want to feel that I’ve truly accomplished something—that I’ve given my absolute best. Whatever I achieve, as long as I know I gave it my all, I’ll be happy with it.”

Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi’s maiden US Open main draw may have ended in defeat, but her fearless performance, rising trajectory, and dedication to growth make it clear that she is a teenager to watch on the global tennis stage.