BJK Cup: Vaishnavi, Sahaja win after milestone; India beat New Zealand

Sahaja Yamalapalli takes photographs (Photo: DLTA) NEW DELHI: Just like the weather in Delhi over the last two days, cool and chilly on Tuesday night to hot and hot on Wednesday afternoon, Vaishnavi Adkar too had a contrast in fortunes and performance in the BJK Cup.Against Indonesia’s Aunchisa Chanta on Tuesday, she was swept by a left-handed shot and let nerves dictate her national team debut.A day later, at the start of the Asia and Oceania Group 1 match against New Zealand, she was on the money with her forehands and the errant serve also died down. In a match lasting one hour and 30 minutes, she defeated New Zealand’s Aishi Das 6:2, 6:4 to earn her first victory in the colors of the national team.

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Vishal Uppal on India’s BJK Cup chances, tennis growth and why doubles is more exciting than singles“This is something I’ve been looking forward to for so many years. Like getting into the team not just as a reserve, but as one of the playing five. So to win is really special because it means a lot. Because there’s a lot of emotion behind it,” she told reporters after the victory.“So it’s really very special. Especially when it’s at home and I have the support of the crowd and everything. It really means a lot,” she continued.The far more experienced Indian, who became the highest-ranked Indian this week, made the most of an inconsistent show from the World No. 1151 Das. Ironically, less than 24 hours after her serve was repeatedly under the pump, Adkar closed out the first set with an ace. The 21-year-old lost her lead and was broken to level the second set at 4-4. But the Indian struck immediately as Das’s error count went against her chances of forcing a decision. The change in weather and conditions also played a role, she admitted.“Yeah, when it’s cold, the ball travels a little faster. And when it’s warm, the balls are heavy and travel a little slower. So, for sure, it was more controlled today than yesterday. So I think that helped me a lot, too,” she stated.

Sahaja Yamalapalli in action (Photo: DLTA)

Vaishnavi was not the only Indian to celebrate the milestone. Sahaja Yamalapalli also registered her first win in Indian colors in the team competition. Since its debut against China in 2024, it has drawn against New Zealand, Thailand, Korea, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Thailand to eventually finish best of second.After suffering a three-set defeat to Patcharin Cheapchandej in the match that resumed on Wednesday morning, Sahaja took to the court again with hopes of picking up her first win.It took her a full 76 minutes to dispatch Valentina Ivanova 6-1, 6-3 to not only seal her first ‘W’ but also give India an unbeaten score.“I’m definitely happy. I know my record wasn’t great in the BJK Cup, but I also played really tough matches. So it was hard to get the W. But I’m happy to get one win.”“I don’t want to look at that either. I want to take it one match at a time and focus on what I can do and not my records,” she told TimesofIndia.com after the match.

Vaishnavi Adkar serving (Photo by DLTA)

Sahaja, who came through the US Collegiate system, was broken early on but quickly bounced back to win the next eight games in a row, including the first set.Ivanov tried to make a comeback in the second set, returned things on serve and then saved three break points, but could not fend off the fourth.Yamalapalli sealed the deal on the occasion of the first game, forcing Ivanov into an error.Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina stormed to a 3-0 lead for India to claim their second win of the day after beating Monique Barry and Erin Routliffe 6-4, 6-2.