Brazilian tennis prodigy Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva has left supporters in awe after becoming the first competitor born in the 2010s to secure a victory in a WTA main draw. The 15-year-old, who goes by the name Nana Leme Da Silva and was born in March 2010, shocked compatriot Carolina Alves in an all-Brazilian clash at the SP Open in Sao Paulo.
Facing an opponent 14 years her senior, the teenager overturned a first-set deficit to beat the 29-year-old 6-7, 6-2, 6-0, earning herself a second-round meeting with world No. 82 Solana Sierra. Showcasing a fierce forehand and strong serve, Leme Da Silva has already drawn parallels with reigning US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, with fans affectionately labelling her “Nanalenka.” Sabalenka only last week lifted her fourth Grand Slam title after defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final at Flushing Meadows. Yet while the Belarusian’s triumph deserves recognition, Leme Da Silva’s breakthrough is no less significant.
Reaction online was immediate, with one astonished fan writing on X: “‘First 2010-born player’ I am just gonna go ahead with my day thinking you are just lying bye.”
Another user simply posted: “TWO THOUSAND AND TEN.” A third, clearly baffled, admitted: “I didn’t think there were people born 2010, what are you all saying.”
A fourth joked: “What am i even doing with my life man.” And a fifth sighed: “2010 yohhhhhhhhh im getting old.”
Her historic breakthrough came on the very courts at Villa-Lobos State Park where she first learnt her trade as a child. Currently ranked 1,206 in the WTA standings, Leme Da Silva is expected to break into the top 1,000 next week.
This competition in Brazil is only her seventh outing on the professional circuit. She is also positioned at No. 37 in the world junior rankings and earlier this summer reached the third round of the girls’ singles at Wimbledon.
Leme Da Silva’s meteoric rise at such a tender age draws inevitable comparisons to other teenage tennis prodigies who burst onto the scene and reshaped the sport. Maria Sharapova, for instance, captivated the world by winning Wimbledon at 17 in 2004, becoming the tournament’s youngest women’s champion in the Open Era and launching a career that included five Grand Slam titles.
On the men’s side, Boris Becker made history at the same venue in 1985, clinching the title at just 17-years-and-six-months-old – the youngest male major winner ever – and going on to claim six Slams overall. At 15, Leme Da Silva is even younger than these icons were during their breakthroughs, positioning her with extraordinary prospects if she maintains her trajectory.
With her powerful game and junior success already in place, she could follow in their footsteps toward major contention in the years ahead, potentially becoming a trailblazer for Brazilian tennis on the WTA Tour.