Sunitha Rao went down to Britain’s Anne Keothavong 3-6 2-6 in 78 minutes of hope but little beyond to fulfil the crowd’s desires.
KOLKATA: The last bit of Indian challenge got choked at the Sunfeast Open on Thursday. Sunitha Rao went down to Britain’s Anne Keothavong 3-6 2-6 in 78 minutes of hope but little beyond to fulfil the crowd’s desires.
At the same time Tara Iyer, partnering A Woziniak, went down to Vania King and A Kudayavtseva 1-6 7-5 10-4 but not before she spurred further hope that she will be the next big one.
Rao was outclassed by Keothavong, who won 61 of the 103 points the match contained.
There really was no long period of time during the match that the Briton appeared to be challenged. More than the tennis, it is Rao’s legs which do not piston away at the same pace as the better players manage.
She has a short forehand backswing which deigns that she get behind the ball right proper before unleashing the stroke. Unfortunately for her most of the times on Thursday she was more times than not just a step short of being where she needed to be.
And she was candid enough to admit just that: “I am fitter than I have ever been but I need to be stronger as the game is more physical at this level.”
Rao also realises that she has to step up or else will be stepped upon. “I just fell short today while with the same game I have been doing well at the Challenger level. Just that here I am not getting away with the little slip-ups that I can at the lower level.”
Iyer has definitely been the revelation of this event as she has shown that though plagued by the big stage nerves, she does have the repertoire to register her presence on the WTA Tour. For rookies to take the top-seeded doubles pair of this tournament into a blink-and-its-gone decider tiebreak is in itself a laudable effort.
“I was intimidated by the crowd yesterday and the expectations thereof. But today I was more relaxed. It has been a positive experience overall and I now know that I have it in me to take on players of the calibre of Flavia (Pennetta),” she said.
The doubles made for interesting watching as Iyer and partner let loose with abandon after the first set was gone.
Just that when the realisation of the tiebreak hit them, they were found wanting. Even King has a good word for Iyer: “I think she hit’s the ball really well. All she seems to need is exposure and more experience.”
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