Cover Photo – Chenthil Mohan
In a pivotal second singles clash of the Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs tie, India’s top-ranked player Sahaja Yamalapalli battled hard against Slovenia’s world No. 98 Kaja Juvan, ultimately going down 4-6, 2-6 in a contest that showcased both the promise and the growing maturity of the 25-year-old.
Despite the straight-sets defeat that sealed the tie in Slovenia’s favour, Sahaja’s composure, fighting spirit, and willingness to engage with the big points reflected her rapid rise on the international stage from an Indian context.
Speaking after the match, she acknowledged Juvan’s experience in decisive moments, discussed adapting to the bouncy conditions, and opened up about the pride of playing in front of a packed home crowd. With India’s campaign ending but another tie still to play, Sahaja also offered thoughtful insight into what Indian Women’s Tennis needs to keep closing the gap with the world’s best.
Q) She was winning the big points more often. Thoughts?
Sahaja – Definitely experience is a big thing here. I mean she’s way more experienced than me. She’s a very good player. She’s played at really top lot of matches.
So I felt like today like she knew exactly what to do in that moment in that break point and, and she knew like how to like where I’m going. She was reading me very well and she knew exactly like how to play me in those points. So definitely I think that’s just her experience from playing a lot of matches and which I lack today.
Q) Before the tournament we were already discussing that quite bouncy over here. Was that the case? I mean were they trying to exploit that today?
Sahaja – For my match, I felt I mean she was going like high sometimes. But I think if, if I was reading her well, I should have taken those balls out of the air way sooner than, you know, than letting those balls bounce. But I don’t think she was trying to go so heavy. I think I was playing more heavier than her.
I got few points off of that. But I mean it’s just a game style, right? Some people like to play heavier. I think in Shrivalli’s match, that girl was playing way heavier balls than my opponent.
But yeah, I mean it’s just a game style which I think I wasn’t able to do it so often because that’s not how I normally play. But yeah, it’s just how they use conditions and how well they adapt to it and how well they can switch their games according to the conditions.
Q) How was it playing in front of the big crowd?
Sahaja – Oh, I absolutely loved it. The environment today was lovely. Everyone I knew, every one of them, you know, I used to play in the same place, same venue and it was crazy. Yeah, they were getting me back, motivating me.
It was really a proud moment for me, inspiring all those kids sitting in there, all those girls especially because if I can be here today, I know every one of them has capability to be here in the future. So yeah, it was nice.
Q) Unfortunately India’s campaign for the 2026 season comes to an end. How is the mood in the camp? You still have another tie tomorrow.
Sahaja – I know we lost today, but I’m really proud of the way we played.
We fought. I’m really proud of all my teammates who practiced their hearts out every day and who fought in Pune so well to be here, and just the second time in the history. So I know we lost, but it’s okay.
We’re proud of ourselves. We fought. We’re gonna come back stronger tomorrow, and we’re just gonna give our best again tomorrow and see where it takes us. And hopefully, you know, we build on this and keep taking women’s tennis to next level.
Q) Just to follow up on what he said, this is the end of India’s campaign here. Looking at the bigger picture as a player, what do you think more can be done to sort of bridge the gap between India and other nations if we are to advance to, like, the qualifier stage?
Sahaja – To be honest, we’ve come a long way. We’ve come a long way, and I’m really proud of our girls and every one of them, our team. And I think, you know, we definitely need more support, more tournaments, and just better system, I would say.
I think that would help us go even further and further because we’ve come this far with very less support. And, you know, so I would definitely think that that would change a lot for us because we’re really, like, trying, and we’re fighting every day.
We’re trying to give our best, and we’ve come a long way. So I hope, you know, things still keep changing in women’s tennis. It has come a long way, too, in terms of the support, the system, and it’s come a long way, but I think there is still a lot more to do. And, yeah, if that changes and we keep getting the support and, you know, the encouragement behind us, I think we’re going to do wonders in the future.
Q) Just to follow up. When you’re saying support, do you mean specifically more tournaments and sponsors, or is it something that the federation can change?
Sahaja – I don’t want to point fingers at one thing, but I think it’s an overall, like, let’s say financial, more tournaments, more everything, like, from grassroots level to just to try to build a player. The whole system overall, I think can be a lot better. And it’s a lot better already from what it was in the past few years.
So that has helped us come this far. So I think more, if it keeps getting better and better, I think we’re going to also keep doing better and better for Indian Tennis.