Fenesta Open 2026: Vaidehee Chaudhari clinches third crown, Maan Kesharwani celebrates maiden triumph

New Delhi’s DLTA Complex was buzzing on Saturday as the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship reached its climax. The finals delivered exactly the drama fans hoped for – tight rallies, a few nerves, and ultimately two deserving champions.

Top‑seed Vaidehee Chaudhari, already a two‑time Fenesta champion (2022, 2024), showed why she’s been the player to watch. She battled 20‑year‑old Shruti Ahlawat for just over two hours, edging the match 6‑4, 7‑5. “I feel so proud – this is my third title,” Chaudhari said, a hint of relief in her voice. She admitted both sets were tighter than the scoreline suggested; at 5‑3 up in each set, Ahlawat kept fighting, making the closing games feel like a marathon.

On the men’s side, sixth‑seed Maan Kesharwani made a statement. He blasted through third‑seed Nitin Sinha with a breezy 6‑0, 6‑4 victory in just 1 hour 37 minutes. The opening set was a clean sweep – six games on the board without dropping one. The second set got a little bit tougher, but a crucial break at 3‑2 gave Kesharwani the edge he needed to hold serve and close it out.

“The first set was easy, but my opponent pushed back in the second,” Kesharwani reflected, his emotions barely contained. “I’ve lost in the first round for four straight years. To walk straight into the final and win… it’s overwhelming. I thank my parents for standing by me.”

The trophy ceremony was a small parade of familiar faces. Rohit Rajpal, president of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, presented the awards alongside Saket Jain of Fenesta Building Systems, Indian hockey star Jugraj Singh, and former champion‑turned‑treasurer Prerna Bhambri. Singh, fresh from an Asian Games gold, praised the quality of the matches: “The footwork, the shot selection – it was a joy to watch.”

Jain used the platform to announce a new player‑development scholarship worth ₹11 lakh, funded from DCM Shriram’s CSR budget. “We’re not just running a tournament; we’re building careers,” he said, noting that the scholarship will support coaching, physiotherapy, fitness and equipment for winners and runners‑up.

In the junior category, 16‑year‑old Ribhav Saroha (10th seed) upset fourth‑seed Om Ramesh Patel 6‑4, 6‑3 to claim the boys’ U‑18 title. “I’ve played Fenesta three years ago in the U‑14 qualifiers. This feels like the Indian Grand Slam for me,” Saroha exclaimed. On the girls’ side, second‑seed Parthsarthi Mundhe defeated seventh‑seed Aahan Aahan 6‑3, 6‑4, describing the final as “hard‑fought but rewarding”.

Next up, the tournament will shift focus to the U‑16 and U‑14 events, promising another round of young talent chasing the same dream.

Championship results:

Men’s Singles – Maan Kesharwani [6] d. Nitin Sinha [3] 6‑0, 6‑4

Women’s Singles – Vaidehee Chaudhari [1] d. Shruti Ahlawat [2] 6‑4, 7‑5

Boys U‑18 – Ribhav Saroha [10] d. Om Ramesh Patel [4] 6‑4, 6‑3

Girls U‑18 – Parthsarthi Mundhe [2] d. Aahan Aahan [7] 6‑3, 6‑4