It was a chastening experience for the young Indian players as they came short on the big stage on the opening day of the L&T $125,000 Mumbai Open WTA tennis tournament at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) tennis courts on Monday.
Zeel Desai, the best talent emerging from the junior ranks, and Karman Kaur Thandi, who reached a career best rank of 284 to be ranked No. 1 in the country among the women on this day, played in contrasting styles, as they bowed out to their seasoned opponents.
The 18-year-old Zeel had managed to hit a bunch of winners to underline her potential while eking out four games from seventh seed Carol Zhao of Canada.
Karman provided the thrills with her explosive serves and big shots. However, the crafty Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia ran her around with a few drop shots, and stepped it up nicely to go for the jugular, even as the tall Indian girl tended to run short and over hit.
Difference in quality
As coach Todd Clark pointed out, there was a big difference in quality of players competing in the $25,000 circuit and the ones aspiring to hit the big stage in the WTA circuit.
Karman did rise hopes, especially in the second set when she broke back to be on par at 3-3, but lacked the experience, craft and temperament to ride on the revival for long.
Watched by multiple Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi, who has been supporting her professional career with coaching stints in France with Patrick Mouratglou, it was understandable that Karman was a bit excited.
The tall and wiry Karman was in some hurry to show her game, but despite her sincere efforts, she could not get out of the net spread out by Dalila who served and stroked with intensity to make it a straightforward affair.
In contrast, Zeel could not put her best game on display. “I can list 20 points in which Zeel can improve. But that is not the point. We will work on her physical strength for about three months early next season, as it is better to work on it when you are 600 in the world rather than 200!,” observed Clark.
The results:
Singles (first round): Sabina Sharipova (Uzb) bt Irina Khromacheva (Rus) 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3); Fanny Stollar (Hun) bt Hiroko Kuwata (Jpn) 6-4, 6-3; Valentyna Ivakhnenko (Rus) bt Marie Bouzkova (Cze) 6-3, 6-3; Yanina Wickmayer (Bel) bt Laura Robson (GBR) 7-5, 6-4; Carol Zhao (Can) bt Zeel desai 6-3, 6-1; Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) bt Karman Kaur Thandi 6-2, 6-4; Alize Lim (Fra) bt Mayo Hibi (Jpn) 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Victoria Rodriguez (Mex) & Bibiane Schoofs (Ned) bt Rutuja Bhosale & Ankita Raina 6-4, 6-3.
