ew Delhi. 21-year-old Vaishnavi Adkar has emerged as a new star in Indian tennis. Her impressive performance in 2026 has earned her the distinction of becoming India’s new women’s singles No. 1 player. The young player from Pune has moved up from 643 to 383 in the world rankings. In the latest rankings, Vaishnavi Adkar has overtaken Sehaja Yamalpally (384) to take the top spot, while Vaidehi Chaudhary and Srivalli Rashmika are at third and fourth positions respectively.
Vaishnavi is currently representing India in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) 2026 in New Delhi. The team has high hopes for her and Sahaja in singles, while Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale can play key roles in doubles.
Impressive performances on the ITF circuit
Vaishnavi’s rise on the ITF circuit has been driven by her consistent performances. She created history by reaching the final of the W100 tournament in Bengaluru. She became the first woman to reach the W100 final since Sania Mirza in 2009, finishing as runner-up in Bengaluru. The achievement further added to her growing stature on the ITF circuit.
She then consolidated her form by winning the title in Kalaburagi. In the final, she defeated Ankita Raina 7-6(3), 6-4. Earlier, she had stunned everyone by defeating top seed Jasmijan Gimbrera in the semifinals. Vaishnavi also excelled in doubles, winning the title with Ankita Raina. Her continued success in 2026 is establishing her as a new hope for Indian tennis.
