The WTA 250 Chennai Open women’s singles final was postponed to Monday after rain and poor air quality from Diwali fireworks disrupted play at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.
The championship match between defending champion Janice Tjen and Poland’s Magda Linette could not begin on Sunday as scheduled. Rain interrupted the start, and smoke from firecracker celebrations further degraded the air quality around the venue, forcing organisers to reschedule the contest for 11 am IST on Monday, November 9.
Tjen, the top seed from Indonesia, advanced to her second Chennai Open final by defeating American Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals. The Indonesian player is aiming to defend the title she won last year.
Linette, the third seed, secured her spot in the final after a comeback victory. She lost the opening set to seventh seed Anastasia Zakharova but rallied to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Polish player is seeking to go one step further after finishing as the runner-up at the Chennai Open in 2022.
The decision to stage the final on Diwali had drawn criticism even before the postponement. Organisers faced questions about their choice of date due to the traditional fireworks celebrations across Chennai.
The impact of the celebrations was felt during the semi-finals, with the sound of firecrackers outside the stadium repeatedly disrupting play. The noise became more pronounced on Sunday evening as Diwali festivities intensified across the city.
Such disturbances disrupt tennis, a sport requiring high concentration and silence during play. The repeated sounds of crackers near the stadium made it difficult to maintain the standard playing environment.
Earlier on Sunday, India’s Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale made history despite missing out on the women’s doubles title. The Indian duo became the first all-Indian pairing to reach a WTA Tour-level doubles final.
They lost to Switzerland’s Simona Waltert and Naima Karamoko in straight sets, 2-6, 0-6. The Swiss pair dominated the match from the outset, with Karamoko particularly effective at the net and Waltert providing strong support from the baseline.
Adkar and Bhosale had booked their place in the championship match with a 6-2, 2-6, [10-8] victory over second seeds Weronika Falkowska of Poland and Alana Smith of the United States in the semi-finals.
The rescheduled singles final between Janice Tjen and Magda Linette is set to begin at 11 am IST on Monday, November 9, at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Chennai. The winner will claim the WTA 250 Chennai Open title.
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