PUNE: Soha Sadiq passed a minor yet significant milestone in her fledgling career on Tuesday when she knocked out top seed Riya Bhatia in the first round of the $25,000 KPIT-MSLTA ITF Cup women’s tennis event at the Deccan Gymkhana.
The 22-year-old had lost to Riya, India’s No. 2 player with a WTA ranking of 354, in straight sets — barely avoiding a double bagel — in the opening round of an ITF event in Nashik in 2015.
On Tuesday, the right-hander from Bangalore put on display her much improved game to clinch a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory in two hours and eight minutes and advance to the second round.
Soha, with an ITF ranking of 973, credit the overhaul of her game to her new coach Jorge Hernandez at the Dravid-Padukome Academy back home in Bangalore.
“I have been working with Jorge for the last year and a half. I am a completely different player now. I realise that is about how much confidence you have on court and being in control of your game,” she said.
Soha had come through the qualifying rounds this week, after having failed to capitalise on the wildcard she received in New Delhi last week, wheh she lost in the first round.
On turning around her fortunes on Tuesday, she said it was about overcoming the match-day nerves.
“In the first set I felt a little tight, and she was giving good fight throughout the match,” Soha said.
“In the second set I got into rhythm and my forehand started working. Once into the third set, my confidence kept growing.”
The 22-year-old had lost to Riya, India’s No. 2 player with a WTA ranking of 354, in straight sets — barely avoiding a double bagel — in the opening round of an ITF event in Nashik in 2015.
On Tuesday, the right-hander from Bangalore put on display her much improved game to clinch a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory in two hours and eight minutes and advance to the second round.
Soha, with an ITF ranking of 973, credit the overhaul of her game to her new coach Jorge Hernandez at the Dravid-Padukome Academy back home in Bangalore.
“I have been working with Jorge for the last year and a half. I am a completely different player now. I realise that is about how much confidence you have on court and being in control of your game,” she said.
Soha had come through the qualifying rounds this week, after having failed to capitalise on the wildcard she received in New Delhi last week, wheh she lost in the first round.
On turning around her fortunes on Tuesday, she said it was about overcoming the match-day nerves.
“In the first set I felt a little tight, and she was giving good fight throughout the match,” Soha said.
“In the second set I got into rhythm and my forehand started working. Once into the third set, my confidence kept growing.”