Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale reach first all-Indian WTA doubles final
The Indian duo defeated second seeds Weronika Falkowska and Alana Smith in a super tie-break at the Chennai Open on Saturday.
Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale became the first all-Indian pair to reach a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour-level doubles final after defeating Weronika Falkowska of Poland and Alana Smith of the USA on Saturday. The Indian pair won the semifinal at the 2026 Chennai Open with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 10-8, according to reports from The Bridge, Sportstar and The Hindu.
The match at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam saw the Indians take the first set comfortably before the second seeds levelled the contest. During the second set, 21-year-old Adkar required a medical timeout for a left hip issue, which had also affected her during her singles second-round match. Falkowska and Smith then took the second set to force a deciding super tie-break.
In the final tie-break, the Polish-American duo led 8-6, but the Indians fought back to win. The victory was secured when Adkar hit a forehand down the line past Smith. Rutuja Bhosale, 30, said it was an incredible feeling to reach the final on home soil with a partner she enjoys playing with.
Adkar noted that the Chennai Open is the last Tour-level event in India. The Indian pair will face the all-Swiss duo of Naima Karamoko and Simona Waltert in the final.
Previously, Shikha Uberoi and her sister Neha reached finals in 2005, but Neha represented the USA. While former player Sania Mirza won 43 doubles titles, she never partnered an Indian in those wins.