1. Shrivalli on her win, recovery and partnership with Maaya
Interviewer: Congratulations on your win! I don’t have too many questions about today’s match. How are you planning to spend your time now? Will you get to spend some time with your family and do things you’ve missed over the years?
Shrivalli: I’ve been able to spend some time doing things I’ve missed. I’ve also had a little bit of an injury to deal with.
Interviewer: Was it the back injury?
Shrivalli: Yes, I had a little bit of an injury. I’ve been cooking a lot lately and feeding people. I’ve made quite a few people put on weight with my cooking!
Interviewer: You’re obviously the more experienced partner, but on court today, it almost felt like Maaya was the one giving you the pep talk. How would you describe that combination?
Shrivalli: It’s always fun playing with her because she’s like a little sister to me. The best part about playing with her is that we never talk about tennis on court! We talk about all sorts of other things, rather than discussing what we should be doing during the match.
I think that’s what made the difference today. We just wanted to go out there and have fun. She’s an amazing player and one of the players India has a lot to look forward to. I hope she continues to reach greater heights.
2. Shrivalli on her bond with Maaya
Interviewer: You two have shared a great bond since the Billie Jean King Cup. How does it feel to partner in doubles and play this tournament together in your home country?
Shrivalli: It’s definitely a lot of fun. At the end of the day, you want to play doubles with someone you’re really comfortable with, both on and off the court. Maaya is one of those people.
The best part about her game is that she never backs down from a fight. She always goes for her shots, and that’s something I really admire about her. I have a similar approach because I’m an aggressive player too.
I think that’s what makes us a good combination. We understand each other both on and off the court, and that’s what worked for us today.
3. Maaya on her upcoming quarter-final
Interviewer: Maaya, I wanted to talk to you about your quarter-final. As you may know, you’re now the only Indian player left in the draw. Firstly, does that bring any added pressure?
Secondly, your opponent, Montgomery, has a playing style somewhat similar to yours. She likes to go for her shots and can make a few unforced errors, but she never backs down and continues to play aggressively.
How have you analysed her game ahead of tomorrow’s match?
Maaya: First of all, as I said, she plays amazing tennis, so it’s not going to be an easy match. I know it’s going to be a tough challenge. I’m just trying to stay here for as long as I can.
4. Maaya on playing in front of the home crowd
Interviewer: You came into this tournament as a wild card, but you’ve now become a crowd favourite. How does it feel to be playing in front of such tremendous support?
Maaya: I’ve been playing matches here since I was nine or ten years old. It’s always been great coming here and playing tournaments. This is a place that feels like home to me.
It’s really fun to experience all of this support. I’m very happy that so many people are coming out and cheering for us. Hopefully, we’ll see even more of that!
5. Maaya on recovery and playing consecutive matches
Interviewer: One last question. In terms of recovery, you’re playing back-to-back matches. We’ve seen other players struggle with the humidity here. However, you seem quite accustomed to these conditions. How do you manage your recovery?
Maaya: We started playing here [unclear]. The conditions were a little difficult during the first couple of days of practice, but I think we gradually got used to them.
As far as recovery is concerned, playing junior tournaments prepares you for these situations because, in most junior tournaments, you often have to play doubles on consecutive days.
I think that experience has helped me handle more matches. My practice sessions have also helped me, so that’s been beneficial.
6. A glimpse into the Shrivalli–Maaya partnership
Interviewer: You mentioned earlier that when you play doubles together, you don’t really discuss tennis on court. Instead, you talk about everything else!
Can you reveal one topic that you usually discuss while playing doubles?
Shrivalli/Maaya: No!
Interviewer: Is everything confidential?
Shrivalli/Maaya: Yes, I think that’s our little secret!
Interviewer: So that’s the winning recipe?
Shrivalli/Maaya: Exactly. Why would I reveal it here?