Chennai Open women's singles final postponed due to rain and smog
The match between Janice Tjen and Magda Linette will now take place on Monday at 11 a.m. following weather disruptions.
The women's singles final of the WTA 250 Chennai Open between Indonesia's Janice Tjen and Poland's Magda Linette was postponed on Sunday due to rain and poor air quality, according to Sportstar and The Hindu.
The match was originally scheduled for 6.30 pm at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) Stadium in Nungambakkam. After being delayed three times by rain, organisers attempted to restart play at 9 pm once the court was dried, but thick smog from Diwali fireworks reduced visibility.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed the postponement, citing unforeseen weather conditions. The contest is now scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026, which is the tournament's reserve day.
Defending champion Tjen criticised the organisers on social media. She shared a post from her coach, Chris Bint, which claimed organisers intended to proceed with the final despite the poor air quality. The post included a screenshot showing an air quality index reading of 1,556, though the source of that data was not clear.
While the overall air quality index in Chennai was 138 on Sunday according to the Sameer application, the private monitor AccuWeather described the air as unhealthy. The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association stated that spectators with valid Sunday tickets may use them to enter the venue on Monday.
This edition of the tournament faced several weather issues, including a complete washout on the opening day and a one-hour rain interruption on the second day. The event will be reallocated to Manila, the Philippines, for 2027.