WTA Chennai Open 2025: Indian challenge ends as Riya Bhatia–Rutuja Bhosale exit in doubles semis

Janice Tjen reached her second final of career at the Chennai Open 2025.

Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and Australia’s Kimberly Birrell set up a title clash at the WTA Chennai Open 2025 after registering hard-fought semifinal wins on Saturday, ensuring there will be a new name on the WTA list of title winners.

In the opening semifinal, fourth seed Tjen outlasted Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee in a grueling two-and-a-half-hour contest to advance to her second career WTA singles final.

Both players were chasing their maiden WTA Tour title, but it was Tjen — who has surged from outside the top 400 to World No. 82 this season — who held her nerve at key moments.

After edging past the first set 7–6 in a tiebreak, the 23-year-old clawed back from 2–5 down in the second set to win another tiebreak and seal the match in straight sets.

Seventh seed Birrell produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the week in the second semifinal against Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland. After splitting the first two sets, Garland raced to a 5–0 lead in the decider and held four match points in the ninth game.

But Birrell staged an incredible turnaround, saving all four before clinching a 6–7, 6–3, 7–5 victory in three hours and 24 minutes to enter her first WTA final of the season.

In doubles, the Indian challenge came to an end as Riya Bhatia and Rutuja Bhosale fell to the Indonesian second seeds Tjen and Aldila Sutjiadi.

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The pair will now take on top seeds Storm Hunter and Monica Niculescu in the final, after the Australian-Romanian duo overcame Japan’s Mai Hontama and Akiko Omae 7–6, 6–4.

Singles Semi-Finals

[4] Janice Tjen (INA) def. Lanlana Tararudee (THA) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)

[7] Kimberly Birrell (AUS) def. Joanna Garland (TPE (2) 6-7, 6-3, 7-5

The ninth game of the third set turned out to be most crucial. Garland was serving 5-3: to close out the set but Kimberly had other ideas. After a number of deuces Garland was absolutely exhausted and needed a medical break before continuing once again

While she had looked strong just a few games earlier she looked sapped and ultimately conceded the game to Kimberly who then went on to win the next 3 games in a row to close out the match.

An incredible come back .The camaraderie amongst the two players was evident when Kimberly the winner had tears in her eyes she caringly shook hands and hugged her opponent after the match.

Doubles Semi-Finals

[1] Storm Hunter (AUS)/ Monica Niculescu (ROU) def. Mai Hontama (JPN)/ Akiko Omae (JPN) 7-6 (3), 6-4

[2] Janice Tjen (INA)/ Aldila Sutjiadi (INA) def. Riya Bhatia (IND)/ Rutuja Bhosale (IND) 5-7, 6-0, 10-5

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