MUMBAI – Day one of the main draw at the Mumbai Open WTA 125 delivered edge-of-the-seat action on Monday, with standout performances from Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Liyolia Jeanjean, Mai Hontama, Misaki Matsuda, Miho Kuramochi, and Mei Yamaguchi advancing to the Round of 16.
Japanese player Mai Hontama set the tone early, overpowering Elevtina Ibrahimova 6-1, 6-4. Ibrahimova mounted a challenge in the second set, but Hontama’s composure sealed the deal in a match that promised more fireworks ahead.
Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, runner-up in the previous edition and a recent opponent of Emma Raducanu Down Under, wasted no time against Victoria Morvayova, winning 6-2, 6-1. Her clinical display reaffirms her status as Asia’s top emerging talents.
With Lulu Sun sidelined by illness, Indian qualifier Ankita Raina faced a tough test in Misaki Matsuda. The Japanese No. 27-year-old responded with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory, highlighting her growing confidence on the tour.
In a three-set epic, Mei Yamaguchi turned the tables on Polina Iatcenko after dropping the opener. The 2-hour-14-minute slugfest ended 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, showcasing Yamaguchi’s fighting spirit and tactical acumen.
Liyolia Jeanjean, the French prodigy famous for upsetting Karolina Pliskova at Roland Garros 2022, breezed past Vaidehi 6-2, 6-0 in just over an hour. Her power and precision were on full exhibit.
The final match saw Miho Kuramochi outlasting Nicole Fossa Huergo 6-4, 6-3 over 91 minutes. These results signal a competitive field as the Mumbai Open heats up, drawing global attention to India’s premier hard-court event.
