Billie Jean King Cup 2025: Vaidehi provides India headstart in opposition to Chinese language Taipei

On Friday, Chaudhari was given the duty of opening the tie for the hosts as they took on Chinese language Taipei within the Asia/Oceania Group 1 encounter. She needed to grind it out, however after two hours and 9 minutes, she ensured the opening level for India with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Fang An Lin.

The win got here a day after she put India within the lead within the tie in opposition to Hong Kong – her first singles win in a event dubbed the World Cup of tennis.

Chaudhari, the India No.4 who’s ranked 364 on the earth, was able to play simply in time. Within the first two days of the event, Shrivalli and Sahaja Yamalapalli had been tasked with enjoying the singles matches, however an harm to the latter on Wednesday required the crew to usher in a change.

“In these first two days I used to be affected by a abdomen bug and simply managed to get well in time,” Chaudhari stated after her match on Friday. “However these matches had been necessary for me and the wins have given me confidence going forward.”

The victories have additionally given her the idea that the adjustments and work she has been placing in her recreation are reaping dividends. An aggressive baseliner, Chaudhari has some useful weapons off each wings. Of late although, she has been sharpening them additional.

“I’ve been engaged on hitting the backhands flatter and including extra topspin on the forehand aspect,” she defined. “I’ve additionally been working lots on my health and motion. That has really helped me get higher previously few years.”

The 25-year-old, who lives and trains in Ahmedabad, is a two-time nationwide champion. Her entry in tennis although was fairly late. Whereas most gamers are likely to take their first steps within the sport when they’re six or below, Chaudhari was 11.

“My uncle (a Deputy Superintendent of Police) needed me to take up a person sport, so he acquired me into tennis,” she stated. “He was my first coach earlier than I moved to an academy a yr later.”

Her late entry additionally meant she had some catching as much as do. She defined that she didn’t obtain a lot within the U-12 and U-14 ranges, however began to select up and win nationwide tournaments within the U-16 and U-18 divisions. A part of the rationale was her uncle’s strict deal with her bodily coaching.

“He’s a bit old style and used to make use of a variety of police coaching drills,” she stated. “There was a variety of body weight coaching – pullups and pushups. And a variety of operating.”

Earlier than every coaching session, she was required to run two kilometres. As soon as coaching ended, she ran one other three.

Tennis had consumed Chaudhari’s world, however at house she needed to adhere to societal norms. She recalled listening to tales of neighbouring housing societies issuing complaints in the event that they noticed women sporting shorts.

“Due to that, I used to verify I wore monitor pants wherever I went,” she stated. “I didn’t need any unnecessary distractions.”

Even now at house in Mehsana, she stated, Chaudhari can not put on her tennis apparel outdoors of the observe courts.

“I’m the primary and solely girl athlete from the town, and folks comply with my performances and want me for my achievements, however they nonetheless don’t encourage women to play sport,” she added. “That’s simply how it’s.”

The one connection she has been specializing in this week is together with her teammates in Pune. The crew captain Vishal Uppal calls her the crew’s ‘sherni’ (lioness). Off courtroom, she’s doing her greatest to take care of a single-minded strategy to her recreation. It was mirrored in the way in which she closed out her match on Friday. With an ace down the T.