Diwali fireworks, rain, Chennai Open final between Janice Tjen and Magda Linette to be postponed

Chennai: The SDAT tennis stadium was engulfed in thick smog caused by firecrackers during Diwali, ahead of the singles final of the WTA 250 Chennai Open tennis tournament in Chennai. (PTI Photo) The WTA 250 Chennai Open women’s singles final between defending champion Janice Tjen and Poland’s Magda Linette was postponed to Monday after rain and poor air quality forced organizers to postpone Sunday’s title clash at the SDAT Tennis Stadium.The championship match, which was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday, could not start as rain interrupted play and smoke from Diwali fireworks affected the air quality around the venue. The organizers subsequently decided to move the competition back by a day, with the final now scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM IST on Monday, November 9.Tjen, the top seed from Indonesia, was set to face third seed Linette in a clash between two players looking to add another milestone to their Chennai Open campaigns. However, the disruption meant that the final day of the tournament ended without a much-anticipated singles showdown.The decision to hold the final on Diwali has already drawn criticism and questions have been raised about the organizers’ choice of date given the traditional fireworks celebrations across Chennai.The impact of the celebrations was also felt during the semi-final, when the sound of firecrackers bursting outside the stadium repeatedly interrupted the proceedings. The noise was particularly pronounced on Sunday evening, when Diwali celebrations picked up speed in the city.Such disturbances are particularly challenging in tennis, where players need to maintain concentration and points are usually played in silence. While the spectators can cheer between points, the repetitive sounds of crackers around the stadium made it difficult to maintain a normal playing environment.

Tjen and Linette reserve the last seats

Tjen will be looking to defend the title she won last year after securing a place in her second consecutive Chennai Open final. Indonesia’s top seed defeated American Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals to retain her crown by one win.Linette, meanwhile, had to fight back after losing the opening set against seventh seed Anastasia Zakharova. The Polish player recovered to record a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory to set up a final against Tjen.The third seed will be hoping to go a step further this time after finishing runner-up at the 2022 Chennai Open.

Vaishnavi Adkar, Rutuja Bhosale came second

Earlier on Sunday, India’s Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale missed out on the women’s doubles title after losing to Switzerland’s Simona Waltert and Naima Karamoko in straight sets.The Indian combination endured a difficult outing trailing 2-6, 0-6 as the Swiss pair controlled the match from the start. Karamoko was particularly effective at the net, while Waltert provided reliable support from the baseline.Waltert and Karamoko secured early breaks in both sets and held on to complete a comfortable victory and lift the doubles trophy.Despite the defeat, Adkar and Bhosale had reason to be proud of their campaign. They became the first Indian pair to reach a doubles final at the WTA Tour level.The Indian duo booked their place in the championship match with a brilliant performance against second seeds Weronika Falkowska of Poland and Alana Smith of the United States. They won 6–2, 2–6, (10–8) in the semifinals before their run ended against the Swiss combination in the final.