Sania defeated French woman Marion Bartoli 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 in the third round and faces world number one Maria Sharapova in the last 16 that could be played at the Arthur Ashe stadium probably under lights.
The Indian star, the biggest mover on WTA Tour rankings in the last 12 months, said she did not expect any stage fright.
"I don't know. It will be one of the biggest matches of my career. You know, I think I played Wimbledon Centre Court," Sania said after her third round win.
"It's definitely going to be one of the biggest matches in my career, but hopefully I'll have the crowd there again. I mean, it's great. It's the biggest stadium in, you know, in all the Grand Slams, so I'm actually very excited." The Hyderabadi girl, the first Indian to win a WTA Tour title, had played former number one Serena Williams at the Australian Open where she was a wild card entrant early this year. She said she would take lessons from that experience.
"I think when I played Serena in Australia I was a bit nervous, to be honest. Actually, that was the beginning of everything to happen. I played, you know -- it was just that I woke up and I couldn't sleep the night before because I was going to play her," she said. "I guess once you're on the circuit all the time, you kind of get used to seeing them around and playing against them. So I don't think a lot of people intimidate me now.
"Yeah, I've played on big stadiums before. I've played in front of big crowds. So, you know, all that just counts and all that experience that you get from playing in those matches and, you know, playing on all those big courts, it just pays off, like hopefully it will in a couple of days." Sania said she had not played Sharapova before but seen on her on the juniors circuit. For the moment though, she wanted to cherish her third round win.
"Just give me time. Let this sink in, come on. Don't hurry up. I am not even thinking about it right now. I just want to enjoy this moment right now.
"Then when I'm out there, I don't think I'll be I'll be intimidated but, you know, it's obviously a very big match for me. So let's see.
Farrington said Sania's injuries -- abdominal strain and foot blisters -- will have to be carefully handled. "Blisters, it is just wear and tear, she has been playing continuously for weeks on different surfaces, lots of matches.
"There has been also added fitness. I can't say what exactly caused it.
"The stomach problem has been there a bit earlier in the year. We are dealing with it carefully." Farrington said Sania would need a couple of week's rest after the US Open to treat her abdominal strain but she would not not skip the Sunfeast Open at Kolkata from Sep 19 to 25.
"We would probably miss the Bali event but we would be there in Kolkata. Sure," he said.
Asked where was the room for improvement in Sania's game, the coach said "it was a combination of lot of things".
"It is going to take time. Her game is one of aggression. What we are trying to make it is one of controlled aggression.
"It is bringing bits and pieces together.
Sania said she was not surprised by her fast rise in tennis. She moved 284 places in WTA rankings since this time last year to her current position of 42nd. "I never surprise myself. I always believed I could do it. It was just a question of when I could do it, and I guess it was sooner rather than later," she said.
Sania is the first Indian to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam. The teenager, however, said she was aware of the context of her achievements but did not really think much of it.
"That's not what I think every time I step on court, that an Indian never did this, an Indian never did that. I'm just there because I just want to be there.
"I'm happy, I'm starting something. I'm not thinking who did it or who's gonna do it. Nothing. What was I thinking (after beating Bartoli)? I was actually absolutely blank.
"I was just enjoying the moment. I loved playing out there, loved playing for the people. They all seemed pretty happy by the performance, so I just loved being out there.
No comments:
Post a Comment