Tamil Nadu pledges ₹10 crore to secure WTA 250 Chennai Open return

The Tamil Nadu government announced on Tuesday it will provide ₹10 crore in financial support for the WTA 250 Chennai Open in Chennai, removing uncertainty over the event’s return. The funding means the tournament is set to be staged for a second successive year.

In June, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association president Vijay Amritraj held discussions with Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna and officials from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) about staging the event. Amritraj had estimated the overall cost of hosting the tournament at approximately ₹20 crore and proposed a 50-50 funding model. Under that proposal the State would contribute ₹10 crore, with the remaining half to be raised through sponsorships, commercial partnerships and tournament revenue.

The announcement followed a meeting between Amritraj and a TNTA delegation with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The government said the TNTA and SDAT would jointly conduct the tournament at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam in November. Tuesday’s commitment meets the government component sought by the TNTA.

Organisers have confirmed the event will be played on outdoor hard courts with a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles field. The tournament carries a total financial commitment of $283,347. The WTA has placed the Chennai Open on its Asian swing schedule.

Indonesia’s Janice Tjen is the defending champion, and officials said the player line-up and Indian wildcards will be announced closer to the competition. The Chennai Open was last held from October 27 to November 2, 2025, when WTA Tour action returned to the city after a three-year gap.

The government’s ₹10 crore pledge gives organisers the financial base to proceed with the third edition of the tournament. The WTA has scheduled the Chennai Open from November 2 to 8.