"Putting 10 balls in every point was what I was thinking" - Yuvan Nandal after his amazing comeback win in the first round of Australian Open

“Putting 10 balls in every point was what I was thinking” – Yuvan Nandal after his amazing comeback win in the first round of Australian Open

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023 · BOYS’ JUNIORS R1 COMEBACK INTERVIEW

After staging an extraordinary comeback from 0-5 down and saving 4 match points in the deciding set to defeat American Alexander Frusina 2-6, 6-3, 6-5 (ret.), 17-year-old qualifier Yuvan Nandal speaks with ITD’s Balaram Dhulipala.

Yuvan Nandal · Australian Open 2023 Boys’ Singles

Saved 4 Match Points From 0-5 Down

Round	Match	Score	Result	Match Breakdown
R1	(Q)Yuvan Nandal (IND, 49) d. Alexander Frusina (USA, 34)	2-6, 6-3, 6-5 ret.	WON	Overturned 0-5 deficit & 4 match points in Set 3

“At 0-5 down in the third set, I told myself to stop going for winners and just put 10 balls in the court on every point — and once I got to 3-5, I saw him starting to cramp.”

— Yuvan Nandal · Courtside at Melbourne Park

India’s No. 2 Junior player Yuvan Nandal made a miraculous comeback from 5-0 and 4 match points down to move into the second round of Australian Open. The 17yo secured his 1st Slam main draw win. His opponent retired after cramping in the last game of the match.

Balaram Dhulipala, ITD Representative from Melbourne had a chance to talk to Yuvan after the match.

Q Thoughts on the match ?

YN : It was great, in the starting I was a bit nervous. It was a great feeling coming on the court looking at people here. But yeah I was nervous got off in the few games when I was down in the first set then I started to feel good and started to make a comeback won 6-3 in the second. Then I went to the toilet there were a lot of thoughts in my head about tennis and everything, but when I came back to the court this guy was firing up and fired me to 0-5. I had no options and then saved like 3 match points in that game but I was thinking like I can comeback. At 3-5 I just saw him cramping. Putting the balls in, 10 balls every point that what I was thinking and then when I saw him cramping again I started to feel confident and then I was like come on 10 more in, it started to get worse for him and at 6-5 he left the match. But yeah, he’s a good friend to me and he is a great player. I give him some electrolytes so hopefully he gets fine soon.