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The Rediff Interview / Nirupama Vaidyanathan

'I am hoping to go out there and break into the top 100'

Nirupama Vaidyanathan has been India's leading woman tennis player for almost a decade. She's the only Indian lady to have won a round at a Grand Slam event, when she defeated Gloria Pizzichini of Italy in the first round of the Australian Open in 1998. And, like her male counterpart Leander Paes, always takes great pride in playing for India, though her exploits in the Federation Cup haven't received the same credit as that of Paes's in the Davis Cup.

Recently the 24-year-old led India agonisingly close to a play-off spot in the elite World Group of the Federation Cup. Playing in the Asia-Oceania Group I Federation Cup in Osaka, Japan, India narrowly failed to claim a play-off berth after Japan edged them out through a better percentage score. India won all their matches during the week, beating Thailand, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. Their only loss came against the formidable Japanese who had four players in the top 100.

Back from Osaka, Nirupama is set to resume life on the tour in Holland. Before leaving she spoke about the Federation Cup challenge, life on the tour and her future plans.

Nirupama, you must be very happy with the performance at the Federation Cup. How was the experience?

It was a great experience. We played some really good matches. All of us were really focussed on each and every match. We had really good practice facilities at our disposal and also a lot of top players were around for us to play against, which was great. We're getting closer every year and we hope to do even better than this next year. That's the way to look at it , I think.

It must have been great to notch up that win against Thailand who had Tamarine Tanasugaran in their ranks who is ranked in the top 100. What was that match like?

We had an open mind going into that match. In the beginning we didn't expect to win the doubles. My match against Tanasugaran was crucial. I thought I could stretch her to three sets at least but she just played brilliantly. I was playing well but she was varying the pace well and won that match. So we had to come back in the doubles in a must-win situation. Manisha ( Malhotra ) and I were really pumped up to win that doubles and we played some really good tennis to win that match. It was a great feeling to notch up that win against the Thais.

You have carried the burden of women's tennis in India almost single-handedly in the last few years. So the efforts of Sai Jayalakshmi and Manisha Malhotra in the Federation cup would have pleased you?

I thought we all combined very well throughout the week. Sai beat Thailand's second ranked player in the first tie which was a great way for us to start because they always play the second singles in the beginning. When she gave us a 1-0 lead , it was a great feeling and even though I lost to Tanasugaran we knew we had a chance. When we went into the doubles I told Manisha we had to win. Their second player was weak and we attacked her and that strategy paid off.

After this campaign and having spent some time at home of late you, what are your impressions of the women's game in India at the moment?

We can't compare the standard right now to the world level. Those people are working as a team right now and secondly, they are playing professional tennis. In our country except maybe Manisha and me right now there isn't anyone playing professional tennis. They go to Europe for two months to play some tournaments and then come back. Then they go back again after three or four months to play in some more tournaments. That's not professional tennis. Professional tennis means you do this as a profession. You can't really compare us with them because they are working on those lines. Unless we do that we can't compare ourselves.

You recently won the $10,000 ITF tournament in Delhi. Did you get the feeling that performances have improved of late on the domestic circuit?

Oh definitely. I can see Sai (Jayalakshmi) has improved a lot. She seems more confident and her game is certainly more mature than before. I also saw a few other juniors like Radhika Tulpule and Sonal Phadke. They all have a lot of talent. It all comes down to whether they'll be able to succeed in going and travelling abroad and having a desire to work towards professional tennis.

What do you think about the future of women's tennis in India?

The problem with women's tennis is that in India it all depends upon the individual. Since we don't have a school for of tennis at the moment for women it all depends on the individual's desire and what they are able to achieve. For example , I know people who are really talented who go to college in the United States and then disappear. There is a lot of talent around but it all boils down to desire, I feel.

Now you are on your way to Europe - - tell us what your plans for the immediate future are?

I have just come back from injury so I am not going to immediately say that I am going to win a couple of tournaments. I know the competition will be extremely tough compared to the competition I faced in the ITF tournament in Delhi and the Federation Cup. I realise its going to be a tough task. I hope to win a few matches get some experience and by the end of the month I expect to win some tournaments.

What is your schedule like?

I am starting with some club matches in Holland and then I am going to play some tournaments in Portugal. After that I will play the qualification tournament for the French open and then the qualifying tournament for Wimbledon. After that I play some more tournaments before I go to United States to play some more.

Finally Nirupama , you are at a crucial juncture in your career now. What are your ambitions now?

I have to keep going at my goal which is to make it to the top 100. I believe I am a little more equipped to after my injury because I have been working really hard to get physically much fitter. So I am hoping to go out there and break into the top 100.

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