MUMBAI – Monday marked a spectacular start to the Mumbai Open WTA 125, with key victories propelling Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Liyolia Jeanjean, and three Japanese players – Mai Hontama, Misaki Matsuda, and Mei Yamaguchi – plus Miho Kuramochi into the next round.
Hontama kicked things off with a composed 6-1, 6-4 win over Elevtina Ibrahimova, fending off a second-set surge to maintain control throughout.
Sawangkaew, last season’s finalist and recent Australian Open combatant against Emma Raducanu, overwhelmed Slovakia’s Victoria Morvayova 6-2, 6-1, signaling her intent to go all the way.
As Lulu Sun withdrew due to illness, Ankita Raina qualified but couldn’t overcome Misaki Matsuda’s 6-4, 6-0 mastery.
Yamaguchi’s comeback against Polina Iatcenko was the day’s highlight: down a set, she grinded out a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 triumph in over two hours, her mental toughness shining through.
Jeanjean, the 2022 French Open sensation who toppled Pliskova, dismantled Vaidehi 6-2, 6-0 efficiently.
Kuramochi rounded out the wins, beating Nicole Fossa Huergo 6-4, 6-3 in 91 minutes. The diverse winners reflect the global appeal of this WTA 125 stop, promising escalated competition moving forward.