Teen sensation Tiantsoa Rakotomanga claims maiden WTA 250 crown in São Paolo

The French player Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah was crowned champion of her first WTA 250 title at the São Paulo Open, after defeating Indonesia's Janice Tjen 6-3, 6-4. The Frenchwoman had a dream week, beating seeded players Panna Udvardy (8th) and the Mexican Renata Zarazúa (5th) on her way to her first WTA final.

The 19-year-old made a significant leap in the rankings after becoming the lowest-ranked player to win a title this season. The South African-born player will advance more than 80 positions in the WTA rankings and is now positioned as world No. 131. Rakotomanga also becomes the ninth player under 20 years old to reach the top 150 of the WTA rankings.

In the first set, the Frenchwoman saved three break points in the first game. The start was even, and both players reached 2-2 without either of them managing to break serve. In the fifth game, the Frenchwoman once again saved a break point and began to take control of the match, getting the first break in the sixth game and taking a 4-2 lead.

Tjen responded with a break in the seventh game, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback. The Frenchwoman took the last two games in a row to close out the first set 6-3. Rakotomanga was especially effective against her rival's second serves, winning 90% of second return points.

In the second set, the world No. 214 maintained her momentum and started with two consecutive breaks. She won the first three games in a row—totaling five since the previous set—and took a comfortable 3-0 lead with a double break advantage. It seemed like all was lost for Tjen, but she showed a fighting spirit in the final part of the match, recovering one of the breaks and saving several break points later on.

Regardless, Rakotomanga held onto her serve and ended with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 victory, securing her first professional title. The 19-year-old makes history in São Paulo by becoming the tournament's first champion.

Rakotomanga had a dream week in São Paulo that could have ended early in the first round when she was on the brink of defeat against Ana Sofia Sánchez. In a tough debut match, the Frenchwoman came back from a 0-5 deficit in the third set, saving several match points before a remarkable comeback to win 6-4, 4-6, 7-6.

In her subsequent matches, she comfortably defeated qualifier Victoria Rodríguez and the ninth seed Panna Udvardy (6-2, 6-4). Udvardy had been a finalist in Guadalajara just a week before. In the semifinals, Rakotomanga faced one of the favorites, the Mexican Renata Zarazúa (fifth seed), crushing her 6-3, 6-2 to secure her spot in a historic final against the surprising Janice Tjen, who had defeated rivals like Alexandra Eala (third seed) and Francesca Jones (sixth seed) on her way to the final.

Rakotomanga joins a notable generation of young French players who are making a name for themselves, such as Lois Boisson (22 years old, No. 47), Elsa Jacquemot (22 years old, No. 62), and Dianne Parry (23 years old, No. 101).