In a candid post-match interview, rising Indian tennis player Sahaja Yamalapalli discusses her recent victory against WTA #182 Yuriko Lily Miyazaki, delving into her mental strategy, revealing the internal shift that transformed her match. Her insights shed light on the mental strategies that drive competitive tennis and the emerging cohort of Indian women making their mark on the international circuit.

Vatsal: First question about the match — you were a set and a break up and then it kind of flipped. What were you thinking going into the third set?

Sahaja: It kind of flipped because in the second, I think I gave her more control and she was able to step in and move me around. But I still had chances that way but I couldn’t turn around. But I think in the third I went to the bathroom break and I was like, I have to play my game, play aggressive and take chances, take control. Then I started making my balls and I found my game. Third set was actually the best set of the whole match. I’m really happy I found my game and played aggressive throughout.

Vatsal: About the conditions here – Bangalore is known to be high-altitude with balls flying. What are your thoughts, and how do you think that suits your game, or doesn’t?

Sahaja: I’m actually not thinking that way. I’ve come here a week before the tournament to train and get used to the altitude. It’s normal, it’s happening to the opponent as well, they also miss, we also miss. But you just control the ball, you get the feel when you’re on the court. It’s not a big deal.

Vatsal: And now in the last year or so, there have been four or five players on the women’s side in the top 300, 400 — You, Shrivali, Ankita, Rutuja, Vaidehi. So how’s the camaraderie? How do you guys bond with each other when traveling abroad and so on?

Sahaja: Well, we’re all good friends. We actually don’t play many similar tournaments unless it’s in India. I’m playing in the US, someone is just playing somewhere else. But yeah, we’ve all been doing well. So I’m happy. I mean, we push each other. One of us does well, we motivate each other. So that’s good. And yeah, I think we all have good potential to break even more, break top 200 soon. So yeah, I’m happy to see where we all go.