Mumbai Open setback serves as another opportunity for Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi’s continued development.
Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi returned to the venue of her breakout performance at the Mumbai Open WTA 125K, a year older and noticeably different from the teenager who achieved a historic semifinal appearance last year. The 16-year-old donned the latest Nike collection from the Australian Open, was accompanied by her coach from the Rafa Nadal Academy, and appeared physically stronger after a demanding year of matches that she described as a mental rollercoaster.
Unfortunately, she was unable to mirror last year’s success, losing in the first round to fifth seed Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand with a score of 3-6, 2-6. However, at this stage in her early career, even this straight-sets defeat offered opportunities for growth and lessons to be learned. While a first-round exit can be disheartening after last year’s performance, which earned her the first WTA ranking points of her career, she sought ways to learn from the defeat shortly after the match and demonstrated significant emotional maturity during a challenging moment.
“I learned a lot in terms of what I’ve been focusing on recently. Honestly, I wasn’t very satisfied with my performance in November-December. But I believe I started off well here, considering the progress and the aspects I’ve been working on; I do see some improvement,” Maaya, now ranked 56 in the juniors, stated after the match.
“I’m not accustomed to playing against someone like Lanlana today. She’s not someone who will provide me with opportunities to finish the point; I have to chase down every shot. However, at a higher level, players won’t give you those points. So, I think this was a moment where I could learn to find more tools to defeat them and to enhance my game,” she added.
Enhancing her game has been the primary focus for Maaya and her team over the past year, particularly after she arrived in Spain following her scholarship with the Nadal Academy. Some visa complications limited her time there, but she gained a lot from her experience, being surrounded by numerous professional players on tour and occasionally even having Rafa or ‘Uncle’ Toni Nadal observing. This level of training is uncommon for a young Indian tennis player and is fundamentally transforming Maaya.
During last year’s Mumbai Open, her gym sessions were restricted at 15 years of age; now she is dedicating significantly more time to strength training, and it is evident. She has grown taller (a natural change at 16), increased her muscle mass (through hours in the gym that she enjoys), and has assembled a team to work on various facets of her game. However, coach Polina Radeva from the Nadal Academy humorously remarks, “Don’t tell her that, please, because we keep telling her that she’s not strong enough.”
“We aren’t focusing on building a lot of mass at the moment, but it’s one of our main objectives for Maaya, as she’s a very aggressive player. To maintain that style, she needs to gain more strength, both in her legs and upper body. Currently, we’re competing frequently, but hopefully, when we have the opportunity for a proper training block, we can concentrate on those areas,” Radeva explained.
Maaya has also experienced a less visible but significantly more profound mental transformation over her first full year of intense competition. While she was pragmatic last year, the emotional aspects of being a top athlete have now become part of her character. The teenager expressed a sigh that belied her age as she reflected on how she had not anticipated her life would become this complicated and acknowledged the need for further personal growth.
“The past year has been a tremendous roller coaster for me,” she smiled. “There were times when I felt a bit overwhelmed because, as a 16-year-old, to be honest, I didn’t expect an athlete’s life to be quite like this, you know?”
“I experienced significant highs and then hit rock bottom multiple times, which was difficult to accept. When you see for the first time how well you can play and don’t expect to lose in the first round… I don’t mean this tournament specifically, but in general, it’s not easy to come to terms with. I believe I need to mature emotionally and learn to handle losses better.”
She candidly discussed becoming avoidant following a brief crisis of confidence and credited those around her for helping her recover from despair. Her early defeats at junior Grand Slams—which were a major goal for her 2025 season—likely did not assist her situation.
“I went through a three-month period where I felt like I wasn’t performing well… I wasn’t reaching out to anyone, and I lost my confidence. However, there were many people around me who supported me. I am very fortunate and grateful for those who encouraged me, reminding me that I had succeeded before and could do so again. Without their support, it would have been very challenging.”
Maaya is still navigating a somewhat unclear mental space where losses, even in exhibition leagues, impact her to the extent that she is hard on herself. As her coach described her, she is a fighter, and it is evident that she is attempting to manage this instinct on the court, which is a positive sign for the future. The disappointments in Mumbai or Melbourne ten days ago illustrate that she remains a work in progress, evolving in the right direction. “There’s still a long way to go, as you saw today, but it’s a good first step to build upon. I’m pleased to see that she’s working and reflecting. For me, the most crucial aspect is that she thinks on the court and understands why mistakes occur,” Radeva remarked.
Maaya refers to this period as a shell, one that she needs to break free from. “I feel like I’m inside a small shell, and if that shell breaks, I’ll become the person I truly want to be. I believe that to break free, I’ll require much more experience and need to compete more. I’m just waiting for that moment when I can emerge from that. Once that happens, I think I’ll be capable enough.”
With Maaya’s inherent talent and the support of her committed team, she has the potential to exceed expectations. The junior Grand Slams, along with WTA 125K and ITF tournament wildcards at home next week in Pune, are all part of her journey to reach that level soon.
Source: espn.com
