Pranthhana Thombre was charging on the net and was intercepting it with closeness. Her partner Ankita Raina was also getting intervals between two kiwi – former Wimbledon single quarter -finalists Lulu Sun and Monic Barry. After losing the first set but moving 4–5 in the second, the pair saw a glimpse through a door crack. India vs New Zealand Billy Jean King Cup was at the Asia-Osian Group I 1-1 level and the domestic team had a chance to shut down the tie.
The conditions were punishing – it was 38 degrees in the evening. Sweat with visibility on the cloud’s eyes at the kindergarten stadium was almost messed up and Kiwi Southpow was suffering from both errors. But Lulu (WTA Rank 45) and Barry focused their focus and increased the intensity of a break and holding back with a break. Partna used to watch the net every time when she attacked the net, and Ankita shut down the Angel Return when the chance suddenly stopped. Pratana stabbed a volley in the net and India lost their early day 1-2.
Sania Mirza was officially left. Top 50 and even top 100 tennis players take a certain swagger that turns into confidence in the alchemy court, in important moments of team relationships. India will need to take inspiration from Mirza, trying to create a world group playoffs for the first time in five years, who sent the team to a social media post, said she was in the soul with them. In court, the enforcement, who participated in Sania in the 2016 Olympics, was released to the bothand volley that needed a butter knife, but the butcher’s Clever was found.
The New Zealand tie was always going to be the most difficult, looking at Lulu’s presence – and put in an unrealistic double shift, playing back to back matches. First she eliminates a tiredness, even though 6-3, 6-3 to 3, not winning 6-3 in the Indian world 301 Sahaj Yamalapally, and won for the doubles in half an hour.
Earlier, Srivali Bhamidipati, at 313rd, had thrash 17-year-old Aishi Das, who saw severely surprised by the heat and was unable to keep points, 6–1, 6-1 together. The long kiwi will grow in the ranking someday, and there are pieces of a large game, but her BJK’s start was completely overwhelmed. Srivalli broke quickly and was absolutely tireless with his deep striking forehands and a competent service, with a yield of 6 aces.
In the other single match, the spontaneous long summer could not do much more than long living in long summer, which reached 41 degrees at a point. But it was always going down to doubles, as captain Vishal Uppal would know.
India last reached the World Group Playoffs in 2020/2021, and missed narrowly in 2024, in third place – coincidentally going to New Zealand to the clinic. They ended behind China and South Korea. But while playing at home, and with a couple tie in balance, Sania’s absence was felt intensely.
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Ankita has been one of the fighters for India at the Tram event, earlier called the Federation Cup. Known to dig up his heel, in attractive games, his confidence is not behind anyone. But the left-handed kiwi pair did a lot of shelling to get the winners out at the bus crunch, Lulu stamped his class, even melted Barry with a wild hit.
But Sania Chhaya Karghe. On Sahaj, now a single player with India’s top-ranked, who grew up in Hyderabad, but failed to share the BJK Dugout with several Grand Slam champions. The 25 -year -old said, “She was the only person to see, and every house knew her. I am disappointed that I can’t live in the Indian team when she plays. She won the Grand Slam and I would be happy that even if I can do it, she can achieve a little bit.”
As India plays Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Korea and Hong Kong in the week, it is an enforcement and couple of Ankita (when in the field), which will require to ring in a reassured point like Mirza. Ankita misses a team partner who did not feel that there is no one. He said, “What I learned from Sania is very fearless in court on the net regardless of the ranking. When she was in a Fed Cup or any other tournament, she said.
PRARTHANA will recall the easy hello that Mirza first brought to the tennis court in 2005. “The full experience he brought to the team, whether he is in court with his expertise or in court … he is the aura that we are playing, we feel pressure because Sania has come to know.” Hands we miss her, “said Pratana.
