Vaidehee Chaudhari and Maan Kesharwani Triumph at Fenesta Open
Vaidehee Chaudhari clinches her third Fenesta Open title while Maan Kesharwani secures a maiden men's crown at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi.
The 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship concluded with high drama at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi, as top seed Vaidehee Chaudhari and sixth seed Maan Kesharwani emerged victorious in the women’s and men’s singles categories, respectively.
Chaudhari Secures Third National Crown
In a grueling battle that spanned two hours and 15 minutes, Vaidehee Chaudhari demonstrated her championship pedigree to defeat 20-year-old Shruti Ahlawat. The final was a tightly contested affair, ending 6-4, 7-5 in favor of the top seed.
Reflecting on her victory, Chaudhari expressed immense pride in securing her third Fenesta Open title, having previously won in 2022 and 2024. She noted the resilience of her opponent, stating, "The first set I was 5-3 up and she kept fighting. Even the second set, I was 5-3 up and she kept fighting till the end. It was a great and a close match."
Kesharwani’s Emotional Maiden Title Win
The men's singles final saw a dominant performance from Maan Kesharwani, who claimed his first-ever Fenesta Open title by defeating third seed Nitin Sinha with a score of 6-0, 6-4. The match lasted one hour and 37 minutes.
Kesharwani was unstoppable in the opening set, winning six consecutive games to sweep the set. While the second set proved more challenging, Kesharwani managed to secure a vital break at 3-2 to maintain control.
For Kesharwani, the win was a significant emotional breakthrough after years of struggle. "Since the last 4 years, I was losing in the first round in every Fenesta Open. This time I directly made the finals and won. I am very emotional," he shared, while also expressing gratitude to his parents for their unwavering support.
New Scholarship to Boost Indian Tennis Talent
The tournament also marked a significant step forward for player support. Saket Jain, Executive Director and Business Head of Fenesta Building Systems, announced the introduction of an Rs 11 lakh Player Development Scholarship funded through CSR budgets. This initiative aims to assist winners and runners-up with essential costs such as coaching, physiotherapy, fitness, and equipment.
Junior Success and Distinguished Guests
In the junior categories, 16-year-old Ribhav Saroha produced a standout performance, upsetting the fourth seed Om Ramesh Patel 6-4, 6-3 to claim the boys’ U-18 singles title.
The presentation ceremony featured several notable figures, including:
- Rohit Rajpal: President of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association.
- Jugraj Singh: Indian hockey player and 2026 Asian Games gold medallist.
- Prerna Bhambri: Four-time Fenesta Open champion.
- Saket Jain: Executive Director, Fenesta Building Systems.
Hockey star Jugraj Singh praised the high level of competition, noting the impressive footwork and shot selection displayed by the national athletes during the live matches.