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Asian women’s tennis: Flurry of backhand winners powers Sadiq into finals
Soha Sadiq rallies from 1-5 down in the third set enter the final against Prathiba Narayan Prasad in 3 hrs and 21 minute battle.
At 5-1 down in the final set, Soha Sadiq from Bengaluru ,who was battling a pain on her left hand, took a medical timeout and entered the court as a completely different player. The 20-year-old served well and hit furious backhand winners to snatch a 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Prathiba Narayan Prasad of Bengaluru to enter the final.
For Prasad, it turned out to be a heartbreak as playing inconsistently in the last 25 minutes denied her to get a place in the finals of $3000 FinIQ–ATT Asian Ranking women’s tennis championship at Metrocity Sports Club, Kothrud on Friday.
“Everything was in control till she (Sadiq) took a medical timeout. After that I don’t know what happened. I could not keep control on the shots,” said Prasad.
Sadiq who had developed a swelling on the left-hand forearm was battling from pain, but still managed to hit a flurry of backhand winners in the final set. “It was paining very badly, but I knew I had to attack to take control of the match,” said Sadiq who serves with the right hand.
In the first set Sadiq was in complete control as her opponent Prasad kept making unforced errors and it allowed Sadiq to earn the set 6-2
“I was playing attacking game in the first set but in the second set, I went on bit passive (defensive) mode so she (Prasad) jumped on the opportunity. In the third set, I was not hitting balls well in the start but then I started playing an attacking game,” added Sadiq. In the second set, it was Prasad whose cross-court returns kept pushing Sadiq on the baseline. With Sadiq going on defensive mode Prasad took full advantage and took the set 7-5. In the final set, Prasad was 5-1 but then, Sadiq shifted her gears and not only save match point but also earned four consecutive points to make it 5-all. Pumped up Sadiq did not let it slip in the initial moments and earned a stunning victory. “She (Prasad) has a habit of hitting the ball inside which is her strength and she was just doing that,” added Sadiq.
Bengaluru-based player Sadiq will now face wildcard entrant Vaidehi Chaudhari of Gujarat who stunned top-seeded Sai Samhitha Chamarthi of Tamil Nadu 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
India women tennis players need more tournaments: Sadiq
Sadiq who is playing on women’s circuit from the age of 17 feels that women players in India need more tournaments to earn International Tennis Federation (ITF) points.
“It’s a tough time for Indian women tennis players as there are very fewer tournaments held in India. Earning points was already difficult and now after the change in ITF rules it has become more difficult,” said Sadiq.
“To earn points we need to travel to African countries, where tournaments are happening. AITA should also host more tournaments for women,” added Sadiq.
The same thought was shared by Nidhi Chilumula, AITA ranked, 18 from Telangana who lost in the quarter-final against Vaidehi Chaudhari.
“Competition is getting tougher but in India, we should get tournaments with big prize money which will surely help our players to grow,” added Chilumula.
Results (Semi-final)
WC-Vaidehi Chaudhari (Guj) bt Sai Samhitha Chamarthi (TN) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4; Soha Sadiq (Kar) bt Prathiba Narayan Prasad (Kar) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
