(Cover Photo – Chenthil Mohan)
In a gripping start to the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs tie between India and Slovenia, India’s Shrivalli Bhamidipaty delivered a performance full of grit, heart, and resilience against world No. 162 Tamara Zidansek. Though the 23-year-old Indian fell 3-6, 6-4, 1-6 in a fiercely contested opening singles rubber, her spirited fight was much appreciated by the sizeable home crowd.
Speaking after the match, Shrivalli reflected on the emotion of representing India, the confidence gained from pushing a former French Open semifinalist, and the pride of showcasing the growing strength of Indian women’s tennis.
Q) You played like a champion and absolutely resilient performance. Can you take us through this match and your performance?
Shrivalli – Yeah, it was definitely an electrifying match. I can say I got to play with the home crowd and I’m really happy that so many people showed up, cheered for Team India at the end of the day. And Tamara was an amazing player. She’s quite experienced, and I’m happy that I could give a good fight against her.
Our team just wanted to give our 100% and put up a show for the entire India to see why they should start backing more girls and why women should play more sports. And I think we were able to do that in the first match. Hopefully Sahaja can do the same thing and looking forward to the tie.
Q) What does this performance do to your confidence given that Tamara was world number 22 and a former French Open semifinalist?
Shrivalli – Definitely it’s a big boost because I walked onto the court trying to give my 100% because playing for the country is always an emotional feeling and it’s always a pride. So I just wanted to give my 100% and play my best tennis, and I think I was able to do that.
Definitely a little disappointed that I couldn’t get the win for my team, but hopefully the rest of them can do the job for the country.
Q) So you punched above your weight. So maybe just talk about the game, because it seemed that it took time for you to warm up into the game? Because it took around 30 minutes for you to get your first game in. So was that the starting which really pulled you back? What do you think?
Shrivalli – I think definitely I was a bit nervous walking into the match. But she’s far more experienced and I think I just wanted to play every point at a time and just one point at a time.
And I think it took a little bit of time, but I’m glad I could come back in the match. And also the conditions were favorable to us, so I was able to come back.
After the first set, I just told myself that whatever it is – just give your 100% fight till the last point and put up a good show and just keep. And that’s what even my captain told me, that just believe in yourself and go for it. You’ve got the game and just trust yourself.
So I think that’s what our strategy was and that’s what I tried to do and it worked out (in the 2nd set).
Q) Take us through your mental preparations today, knowing you were playing a much higher ranked player.
Shrivalli – Everybody was trying to be chirpy on the team. Everybody just was trying to have fun. We just try to keep everything light like any other day. At the end of the day, plans don’t matter and, it’s who plays their best tennis and can handle their nerves. So I think that’s what mattered at the end of the day. And yeah, that’s what we try to do.
Q) 3rd set was difficult for you, so take us through it. What happened? Was she too strong for you in the 3rd set?
Shrivalli – She played better tennis than me and she was much more consistent than me in the third set. And I think that’s where the experience mattered at the end of the day.
And I think if we have more tournaments like these and if we can represent our country on such a huge stage every time, I think we’re going to be there in a matter of time.
Q) There were several instances where you had game points and then of course you had break points. Points as well, but somehow you couldn’t quite cross the line and that sort of hurt your momentum. Can you talk us through what was perhaps holding you back and crossing that finish line and converting those break points?
Shrivalli – There was nothing holding me back, but I think she was much more better at those points. And, yeah, I think she did a better job than me in these points. Yeah, that’s what happened.