Sahaja Yamalapalli’s Mumbai Open 2024 campaign has ended. After claiming the biggest win of her career on February 5, the 23-year-old from Hyderabad has bowed out of the WTA 125K tournament following a three-set loss to world number 139 Polina Kudermetova in the round of 16.
Sahaja was ranked 336 before the start of the tournament. Despite her loss to Kudermetova, Sahaja Yamalapalli will see a rise in her ranking after she beat world number 92 Kayla Day in the round of 32 to claim her first top-100 win.
Facing an opponent ranked 197 spots ahead of her, Sahaja lost the match in three tight sets (6-1, 3-6, 5-7). The tennis ace will not be happy with her loss after being 5-2 up in the third set and serving for the match twice. However, Kudermetova broke her serve thrice and won five straight games to take the match.
Sahaja Yamalapalli had started the year on the back of a title run in Solapur. However, her year hasn’t gone the way she would have liked. So far in 2024, she has won just one match in the four tournaments she’s played. But this round of 16 exit at the Mumbai Open 2024 will boost her confidence and propel her ranking.
Sahaja Yamalapall 2024 season so far
ITF India 01A: Lost in Round of 32 to Dalila Jakupović
ITF India 02A: Beaten in Round of 32 to number 1 seed Darja Semenistaja
ITF India 03A: Lost in Round of 32 to number 7 seed Dejana Radanović
Mumbai Open: Lost in Round of 16 to Polina Kudermetova