Darja Semenistaja, Mumbai Open 2026
Image Credit - MSLTA
Latvia’s Darja Semenistaja ticked off a major career milestone last August when she came through qualifying to make the main draw of the 2025 US Open. The left-hander won three matches in qualifying before going down to American Peyton Stearns in the first round in New York.
Five months later, Semenistaja featured in the main draw of a Grand Slam again — this time as a direct entry at the Australian Open. She lost in the opening round to 13th seed Linda Noskova, but the 23-year-old remains focused on taking the next step: winning a match at the sport’s biggest events.
“Qualifying for the Grand Slams is definitely a big step for anyone's career. I'm just very motivated seeing myself making these steps forward,” Semenistaja told Sportshadow in an exclusive interview last week in Mumbai, where she was competing in the L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K.
“Although I lost in the first round of the main draw both times, I feel like I need to level up. I need to step up and it's just important to see that work pays off and I get chances to participate in main draws. Hopefully, I can win a round at least at the next Grand Slam.”
Two months after qualifying for her first Major, Semenistaja achieved another significant breakthrough — breaking into the Top 100 of the WTA singles rankings. Currently ranked No. 98 in the world, she says her next goal is to consistently give herself opportunities in the biggest tournaments and against the top players.
“It was a big goal getting to the Top 100 in the end of last year. Now the goal is to play the bigger tournaments and hopefully get wins in bigger tournaments against higher-ranked players. The goal is just to improve my game, improve myself and keep showing results but in the bigger tournaments,” she added.
One of her biggest wins so far came last July at the WTA 125K event in Bastad, where she defeated France’s Lois Boisson, who was ranked No. 66 at the time. Semenistaja describes it as the best win of her career.
“It was a WTA 125K win, but it was right after her semi-final finish at the French Open. So, that win was very special.”
Known for her ability to grind out results, Semenistaja believes her fitness and physical conditioning are among her biggest strengths. “For the left-hander players, it is the angles,” she said when asked about her strengths.
“And I think the physicality that I can keep going for long matches. I don't mind it. Long rallies, long matches. And just kind of trying to make it tough physically for the opponent and trying to make her go for bigger shots, taking bigger risks. That's the strength I have, I think.”
Semenistaja was the second seed in Mumbai last week at a tournament she had won in 2024. The Latvian went down to Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger in a tough three-set battle, but said the city and the tournament will always remain special for her.
“Obviously it's a special place for me, a special tournament because I got my first WTA 125K title here. Even though the venue is different, I like the courts. But the conditions are tough. It's very, very humid. The courts are slow. I feel like it's a lot of physical effort and a lot of long rallies.”
From Mumbai, Semenistaja will hit the road again. It is only the second month of the 11-month tennis calendar, but she hopes to find time away from the tour whenever possible.
“I'm trying to be at home in Latvia between tournaments. My coach is French, so sometimes I go to France to practice there. But honestly, I don't really have a base. It's just a lot of weeks on the road, a lot of tournaments. And in between, I'm trying to go home just to recharge a bit and rest and see my family,” the Latvian signed off.