After a rough start to the year, Sahaja Yamalapalli has done the unthinkable. The 23-year-old from Hyderabad has claimed the biggest win of her career by defeating a top-100 opponent at the Mumbai Open.
Ranked 336 in the world, Sahaja was taking on number one seed Kayla Day in the opening round of the Mumbai Open 2024. Facing an opponent ranked 244 spots ahead of her, Sahaja won the match in a tough three-setter (6-4, 1-6, 6-4).
Sahaja Yamalapalli had failed to win a match so far in 2024 before facing Kayla Day. After ending 2023 with a title run in Solapur, the 23-year-old had high hopes for the new year. But three first-round exits had pegged her hopes back.
Looking seemingly stuck in a rut, Sahaja has claimed the biggest win of her career and has a chance to move up the ranking by making inroads at the WTA 125K event.
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: Advances to Round of 16 after beating number 1 seed and world number 92 Kayla Day
Editors pick
