By Bharath Ramraj in Bengaluru
Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, remember the name. The tall 23-year-old Indian tennis player cracks big flat serves and can hit scorching cross-court and down-the-line forehand winners. All those powerful weapons were on full display against the much more experienced Tamara Zidansek in a Billie Jean King Cup play-off tie in Bengaluru. Eventually, Shrivalli lost 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, but she enthralled the audience with her sizzling brand of tennis.
That pulsating encounter was followed by K Juvan beating Sahaja Yamalapalli in straight sets to power Slovenia to the main draw as India crashed out in the play-offs. Amidst India’s exit, the shining light was Shrivalli’s power-packed tennis.
At one point in the first set, Zidansek had taken a 4-0 lead. Just when it seemed as if the match would be one-way traffic, the Telangana Express hit one flat serve after another. For a while, the 2021 French Open semi-finalist didn’t seem to be picking the wide serve via the deuce court.
There were a few forehand winners too. At times, she would open up Zidansek on the backhand side, leaving her gasping for breath on the forehand wing. Despite a gritty performance, Shrivalli could only get one break back as her opponent closed out the set.
In the second set, the talented Indian came out all guns blazing, breaking the former World No. 22 in the first game itself. During the first few games of that set, her demeanour and the loud roars after winning crucial points resembled those of her favourite tennis player, Maria Sharapova. She even raced away to a commanding lead with two breaks of serve. Zidansek did bounce back, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Shrivalli from pulling one back.
In the decider, it was perhaps Zidansek’s retrieving skills and experience that proved to be the decisive factor. Zidansek also probably changed her tactics by indulging in low-bouncing rallies and testing her opponent at the net.
In the final analysis, the better player won, but here is an Indian who has the potential to go a long way in the world of women’s tennis. But in the harsh world of tennis, it is difficult to predict her future. This is a landscape where a tennis player needs to make massive investments with regard to travel expenses, alongside having an individual trainer and coach. Fingers crossed she will get the required support.