Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale became the first-ever all-Indian pair to reach a Tour-level final as they took down the second-seeded Polish-American duo of Weronika Falkowska and Alana Smith 6-2, 2-6, [10-8] at the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Saturday.

Cheered by 500-odd spectators on centre court at the SDAT Stadium, the Indian duo got off to a quick start as they broke Smith’s serve to love for a 2-1 lead.

The advantage increased to 4-1 when Rutuja hit a forehand return right at Falkowska’s feet to get the double-break.

World No. 128 Rutuja held to love and secured the opener soon.

However, from 2-2 in the second essay, there was a sudden dip in the Indian pair’s level. The 21-year-old Vaishnavi committed consecutive double-faults and handed the break to the opponents in the sixth game.

Down 2-5, the Indians were forced to use a medical timeout as Vaishnavi faced a left hip issue - the same had affected her during her second-round loss in singles.

The Falkowska-Smith duo broke Rutuja immediately after resumption to clinch the second set.

The Polish-American pair led 8-6 in the super tie-break before an inside-out forehand from Rutuja and an overhead smash from Vaishnavi restored parity. The Indians moved ahead courtesy a backhand volley from Vaishnavi. Down match-point, Smith let a forehand down the line from Vaishnavi pass her only to watch it land inside the baseline.

“It’s an incredible feeling to reach the final on home soil, doing it with someone I really enjoy playing with. We had no idea we were the first Indian pair (to reach a Tour-level final). It’s something that I will always remember,” said the 30-year-old Rutuja.

“It’s the last Tour-level event in India. So, I’m really glad that we could make the best out of it,” said Vaishnavi.

Linette, Tjen in summit clash

Magda Linette, the 2022 runner-up, returned to the final with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over big-hitting Russian Anastasia Zakharova.

Linette, the 34-year-old Pole, will face defending champion Janice Tjen in Sunday’s summit clash.

World No. 75 Tjen, the top-seeded Indonesian, took down USA’s Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-4 in their semifinal to extend her winning streak in Chennai to nine matches.

The results (semifinals): Singles: Janice Tjen (Ina) bt Robin Montgomery (USA) 6-3, 6-4; Magda Linette (Pol) bt Anastasia Zakharova (Rus) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles: Vaishnavi Adkar & Rutuja Bhosale bt Weronika Falkowska (Pol) & Alana Smith (USA) 6-2, 2-6, [10-8]; Naima Karamoko & Simona Waltert (Sui) bt Isabelle Haverlag (Ned) & Panna Udvardy (Hun) 6-4, 6-4.