Mai Hontama vs Zhibek Kulambayeva Preview & Prediction | 2026 Chennai Open | Round of 16

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Mai Hontama takes on Zhibek Kulambayeva at the Chennai Open. 

Ranking points: WTA 250

Start date/time: 5 November 2026 at 9:30 am

Venue: SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, India

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Mai Hontama vs Zhibek Kulambayeva ticket information

Mai Hontama vs Zhibek Kulambayeva prediction

Mai Hontama produced an impressive upset against fifth seed Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the opening round of the Chennai Open. The Japanese won five of her opponent’s 10 service games, going on to win 7-6 (3) 6-2. Hontama’s recent form has been inconsistent, with defeats to Viktorija Golubic in Osaka and Maya Joint in Tokyo qualifying. However, she returned to winning ways with a victory here.

She faces Zhibek Kulambayeva next, following the Kazakh’s win over Mei Yamaguchi in the first round. Remarkably, she faced Yamaguchi in the qualifying rounds of this event, winning in three sets. This was a more comfortable outing, with Kulambayeva winning 6-4 7-5.

Hontama holds a substantial ranking and has greater experience against established WTA opposition in the past, but Kulambayeva has already demonstrated her ability to compete effectively in Chennai’s conditions. Both players produced strong returning performances in the first-round, suggesting that service breaks could be frequent. 

Mai Hontama vs Zhibek Kulambayeva tip: Over 21.5 games