Mumbai: Jil Teichmann lowered herself, skillfully cushioning a volley to conclude the point. With her fists tightly clenched, she released a triumphant roar of “allez.” This battle cry of “come on” resonated as she faced Manachaya Sawangkaew from Thailand in the final of the L&T Mumbai Open on Sunday.

That exclamation marked her victory as she secured the WTA 125 title with a score of 6-3, 6-4.

“It was certainly a goal for me to win this trophy,” remarked Teichmann, currently ranked No. 117 in the world, following the match. “This is merely one step I have taken, and I aspire to continue progressing.”

Her victory on Sunday is expected to propel the former world No. 21 back into the top 100, as she steadily reestablishes herself among the elite in women’s tennis. A series of injuries throughout much of 2023 and the early part of 2024 had caused her ranking to decline. She emphasizes the importance of relying on the process to regain her position and advance further.

“I have encountered numerous challenging moments,” she stated. “I am grateful for these experiences as they have allowed me to learn a great deal about myself as a player and to engage in deeper reflection. The most significant lesson I learned was simply to persevere. It may sound peculiar, but you will endure, and that will ultimately strengthen you. It is essential to have faith in that.”

On Sunday, her belief was evident as the left-handed player exhibited an aggressive style of tennis, combining topspin with flat strokes and frequently advancing to the net.

Sawangkaew proved to be a formidable opponent, refusing to concede easily. However, Teichmann ultimately found the lines with greater consistency than her Thai counterpart, securing the victory.

In a closely contested doubles final, Indian player Prarthana Thombare and her Dutch partner Arianne Hartono were narrowly defeated by the all-Russian second seeds, Elena Pridankina and Amina Anshba.

The Indo-Dutch pair lost with a score of 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-10, marking their second consecutive defeat in the final of the Mumbai Open. Last year, Thombare and Hartono were also runners-up, losing to Dalila Jakupovic and Sabrina Santamaria.

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