Chennai Open singles final postponed due to rain and poor air quality
Defending champion Janice Tjen and Magda Linette will play their title match on Monday after weather and smog disrupted Sunday's play.
The WTA 250 Chennai Open women's singles final between defending champion Janice Tjen and Poland's Magda Linette has been rescheduled for 11 am IST on Monday, November 9. According to the Times of India, the match at the SDAT Tennis Stadium was originally set for Sunday but was postponed due to rain and deteriorating air quality caused by Diwali fireworks.
The final was delayed three times on Sunday due to rain before organisers attempted to start play at 9 pm IST. However, the Hindustan Times reported that play was called off an hour later because of poor visibility caused by heavy smog. The air quality was described as unhealthy by AccuWeather, with Janice Tjen sharing a social media post showing an AQI reading of 1556 for Chennai.
Tjen, the top seed from Indonesia, alleged on Instagram that organisers wanted the match to proceed despite the poor air quality. She reposted a story from her coach, Christopher Bint, who also claimed the organisers intended to play despite the conditions.
In the semi-finals, Tjen defeated American Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-4, while Linette, the third seed, recovered from a first-set loss to beat seventh seed Anastasia Zakharova 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Linette, ranked world No. 68, is seeking her fourth title, while Tjen, ranked 75, aims to defend her crown.
In the women's doubles final, Switzerland's Simona Waltert and Naima Karamoko defeated India's Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale 6-2, 6-0. Adkar and Bhosale became the first all-Indian pairing to reach a WTA Tour-level doubles final.