Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday congratulated India’s Jensi Dipakbhai Kanabar after the teenager became the first Indian female to win the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Elite 14 & Under Trophy.
Jensi scripted a remarkable comeback in the final of the 2026 AO Asia-Pacific Elite 14 & Under Trophy, fighting back from a 3-6, 0-2 deficit to defeat home favourite Musemma Cilek at Melbourne Park.
“From Junagadh to Melbourne – India’s pride serves an ace! Congratulations to our Khelo India athlete Jensi Kanabar from Junagadh, Gujarat, on winning the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Elite 14 & Under Trophy 2026 and becoming the first Indian female to achieve this historic feat,” Mandaviya shared on social media.
Hailing from Junagadh in Gujarat, Kanabar’s triumph underlined the growing strength of India’s grassroots tennis ecosystem. Playing against a physically stronger opponent and in front of a partisan crowd, the young Indian displayed exceptional composure and resilience to turn the match around and lift the trophy.
Jensi enjoyed a dominant run through the tournament, reaching the final without dropping a single set. In the semi-finals against Japan’s Aoi Yoshida, Jensi showed remarkable mental toughness, edging a closely contested first set via a tie-break before raising her level in the second to seal her place in the championship match.
She had earlier topped Group A with a flawless 3-0 record, negotiating a challenging field that featured some of the Asia-Pacific region’s most promising young talents. Her consistency from the baseline stood out throughout the event, with the Indian youngster winning eight consecutive sets during her campaign in Melbourne.
Her latest success adds to a rapidly growing list of achievements. In November last year, Jensi, then just 13, claimed the ITF J60 Guwahati singles title, an under-18 tournament where she competed against opponents up to four years older, further underlining her potential on the international stage.