Jensi Kanabar has etched her name into the record books at just 14 years and five months, becoming the youngest Indian female to reach the quarter-final of a professional singles event. In doing so, she surpassed a 25-year-old milestone previously held by Sania Mirza, marking a proud moment for Indian tennis.
Playing only her second ITF tournament, Kanabar showcased composure well beyond her years. She stunned 22-year-old Sandeepti Singh Rao with a 6-3, 7-5 win in the Round of 16, saving four crucial set points in the second set to seal her place in the quarter-finals of the ITF W15 New Delhi event.
Her campaign began in a dominant fashion with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jaya Kapoor in the Round of 32. Carrying that momentum forward, Kanabar combined fearless shot-making with impressive maturity.
List of youngest Indian females to make pro singles quarterfinals
- Jensi Kanabar – 14y 5m 0d
- Sania Mirza – 14y 5m 11d
- Ankita Bhambri – 14y 8m
- Tara Iyer – 15y 0m
- Isha Lakhani – 15y 0m
- Rutuja Bhosale – 15y 2m
- Sanaa Bhambri – 15y 2m
- Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi – 15y 6m
- Shruti Ahlawat – 15y 7m
- Parthsarthi Arun Mundhe – 15y 7m
- Mahak Jain – 15y 8m
JENSI KANABAR KEEPS GROWING
Earlier this year, Jensi scripted history by becoming the first Indian female to win the Australian Open U14 title, sealing a remarkable comeback victory over Australia’s Musemma Cilek 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Trailing 3-6, 0-2, the 14-year-old showed exceptional composure to turn the match around despite a partisan home crowd.
Her campaign at the 2026 Australian Open Asia-Pacific Elite 14 & Under Trophy was dominant throughout. Kanabar topped Group A with a flawless 3-0 record, defeating Shivali Gurung, Jinyu Zhou, and Jocelyn Ke in straight sets. She then produced a composed 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Aoi Yoshida in the semi-final. Kanabar capped off a stellar week with a fighting comeback to clinch the historic title.
Jensi Kanabar is emerging as one of India’s brightest young tennis talents, rising quickly through the junior ranks with consistent performances. Hailing from Junagadh, Gujarat, she has already reached No.1 in the AITA Girls’ Under-14 and Under-16 rankings and broken into the women’s circuit by early 2026.
Her achievements include winning the GSPDP Asian U-14 Championship in Manila and the ITF J30 Ahmedabad title on debut. She also clinched the prestigious Fenesta Open U-14 crown. At just 14, Kanabar made a strong impression on the ITF Women’s circuit, showcasing maturity, consistency, and the ability to compete at higher levels.
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