“My Main Goal This Year Is to Play the Junior Grand Slams”: Teenage Tennis Star Maaya Rajeshwaran Eyes Global Stage

Pune, 5th April 2025: After a breakthrough performance at the WTA Mumbai Open, 15-year-old Maaya Rajeshwaran has been named as a reserve player in the Indian team for the Billie Jean King Cup 2025 Asia-Oceania Group-1. The prestigious international tournament, organized by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) in collaboration with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Pune Metropolitan District Tennis Association (PMDTA), will be held at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex in Pune from April 8 to 12.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Maaya shared her aspirations for the year: “My main goal this year is to play the junior Grand Slams while also competing in the women’s category. Hopefully, I can win a junior slam in the coming years — that’s my mid-term goal,” she said.

Maaya’s recent performance at the Mumbai Open, also organized by MSLTA, propelled her into the national spotlight. “The wildcard opportunity for the Mumbai Open was something special. The funny thing is, it wasn’t even part of the plan for me. It was MSLTA and Sunder Iyer sir who gave me the wildcard, and I’m grateful for that,” she recalled.

Reflecting on her mindset during the tournament, she added,
“As soon as I got the wildcard, I knew how good the opportunity was. Even after winning the first match, I was happy with how I played, but not satisfied — the ultimate goal was qualification.”

Despite entering the tournament as a wildcard, Maaya faced off against seasoned international players with grit and confidence. “It was a very good run. At this point in my career, I’m transitioning from juniors to women’s, and that tournament really gave me a breakthrough. I’m very happy with that,” she said.

Looking ahead to representing India in Pune, Maaya expressed her excitement: “I’m really happy this event is happening in our country. It’s my first time being part of the Indian women’s team. Every athlete dreams of representing their country. I’ve played for junior teams before, but playing for the women’s team is the real goal. I’m thankful to the association for selecting me.”

She also urged fans to come out in support: “Hopefully, we do well. I’d also request everyone to come watch and support us — it makes a huge difference,” she concluded.