WTA 250 Chennai Open | Zeynep replaces Maria astop seed after latter pulls outof WTA 250 Chennai Open

When Linda Fruhvirtova of Czechia gained the WTA 250 Chennai Open as a 17-year-old within the 12 months 2022, she wasn’t the favorite by a distance. Unseeded, Linda put it throughout Magda Linette of Poland, seeded three, in an thrilling three-set remaining.

Returning to the identical event, which is being held after a spot of three years, the 20-year-old defending champion is aware of the fickle nature of the game on the highest stage.

Talking on the draw ceremony right here on Saturday, Linda, who will face Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany within the first spherical, stated, “It’s additionally the final event of the season. Some ladies is perhaps drained or the other, much more motivated. And the climate right here will be excessive and all of it depends upon the actual day. Many occasions, now we have seen qualifiers or unseeded gamers having nice runs.”

Vijay Amritraj, the previous Indian tennis nice, described the primary draw, which begins on the SDAT-Nungambakkam Stadium right here on Monday, as open. “It comes all the way down to the day’s efficiency. Clearly, climate will play a job, relying on how matches progress,” he stated.

Germany’s Tatjana Maria, who was the highest seed, has pulled out with out specifiying any cause. In her absence, Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey (World ranked 69) has been given the highest billing within the singles foremost draw.

Indian wildcard entrants, Maaya Rajeshwaran and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty will face one another within the opening spherical. India’s No. 1 Sahaja Yamalapalli, a wild card entry, will tackle a qualifier within the first spherical. Alastair Garland, Managing Director of Octagon, the license holder of the Chennai Open, stated, “It’s our intention to maintain the event right here.”

Maaya Rajeshwaran
| Picture Credit score:
R. Ravindran

On taking over her Indian counterpart Shrivalli on Monday, Maaya stated: “I feel she’s somebody each Indian junior has seemed as much as. I’ve personally recognized her not solely as a participant, as an individual as effectively. It’s an expertise to play in opposition to her.”