WTA 250 Chennai Open: Robin Montgomery — resilient and courageous in equal measure

Resilience is a big part of Robin Montgomery’s game.

Recording three-set wins over a flat hitter in Hungarian Panna Udvardy (6-4, 1-6, 6-1) by mixing things up and rising Belgian teenager Jeline Vandroome (6-4, 3-6, 7-5) in an absorbing three-hour contest under hot and humid conditions, the 22-year-old left-handed American, currently World No. 161, has shown that fighting spirit over the last two days at the WTA 250 Chennai Open to reach the quarterfinals.

Her upbringing has played a big role in who she is, not just as a player but even as an individual. She was raised by a single mother and her grandmother in Washington D.C. “I definitely come from a household of strong, independent women and I wouldn’t change that for the world,” she said.

Even making it as a tennis player needed courage. Her mother found out about Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), a training facility in College Park, Maryland, only through an advertisement in The Washington Post.

Under the community outreach tennis program sponsored by GEICO in partnership with JTCC, the five-year-old Montgomery was awarded a full scholarship.

By the time she turned 17, Montgomery had already become the Junior US Open Champion, turned pro and even made her Grand Slam debut.

But the rigours of the senior circuit took a toll on her soon. In 2025, the year she made her Top 100 debut, she also had to undergo surgery for a persistent wrist issue and stayed out of action for 10 months.

Having been through a lot while still being only 22, Montgomery tries to not be too hard on herself. “Sometimes I forget how young I am and I try to keep that in perspective,” she said.

The American is on a comeback trail, having won her maiden Tour-level title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in June. The Chennai Open could be her next conquest.