The campaign really got going on Wednesday when those same four notched up some no-nonsense first-round victories. It was a case of making the hard points count and putting opponents away. You could see the poise in a group that has as many old hands as it does young ones with nothing to lose, and it bodes well for what’s to come.
It was the kind of day where you have to be ready to pounce. In the early rounds, nerves can be the difference, but India’s frontliners made a habit of turning close shaves into comfortable scorelines, and they did it without tiring themselves out.
India set the tone in the US Open openers
If anyone had a word to say, it was fifth seed Kidambi Srikanth. He made short work of D Saneeth 21-14, 21-12 in 30 minutes flat, which is as clear an indication as you’ll get that he’s in shape for the tougher draws to come.
On the women’s side, the authority was there too. Devika Sihag, who has the Thailand Masters to her name, ran the show against Peru’s Ines Lucia Castillo for a 21-14, 21-14 win. Then you had Rakshitha Sree, who made Tereza Svabikova of the Czech Republic pay for every point, 21-15, 21-8.
Tanvi’s clutch game turns the tide
For world junior silver medallist Tanvi Sharma, Yvonne Li of Germany was a test of wills. She put in the work to nudge past 23-21 in the first, then made sure the rest of it was hers 21-16. A way of using the pressure to your advantage for the days ahead.
In some ways, that first game was the make or break. After she let Li have some of her own, Tanvi’s length and cool head made for some unimpressive returns from the German, and the numbers on the board told the story.
Srikanth’s 30-minute statement
There wasn’t much fanfare to Srikanth’s win, just control. The fifth seed was on top of the shuttle from the get-go, and any time Saneeth put one up, he was punished. 21-14, 21-12 in half an hour. You could call it a veteran’s job: no fuss, very efficient.
He didn’t give Saneeth much to work with. Put some heat on in the forecourt and the rally was over; the score would move along with it.
New names seize their chance
Rounak Chouhan was the one to watch in a contest with S Sankar Muthusamy that might have gone either way. He had the steadiness to outlast the former world junior 23-21, 21-16, winning the important ones at the net and in the midcourt.
Devika Sihag’s 21-14, 21-14 over Castillo was more of the same from the woman in form. She had the length and the punch to keep the Peruvian on the back foot, making for an easy passage to the next round.
Mixed doubles add quickfire momentum
Then there was the mixed doubles to put a spring in everyone’s step. Dhruv Rawat and K Maneesha, the seventh seeds, were done with Indonesia’s Wirawan Ihsan Adam and Serena Kani in 26 minutes (21-15, 21-16). A quick in-and-out that leaves them with fresh legs for the harder stuff.
Key results at a glance
All in all, these wins are a fair sample of the mix of calm and sharpness India put on the court. Here is where the matches were won and how fast they went:
– Tanvi Sharma outlasts Yvonne Li 23-21, 21-16
– Kidambi Srikanth has D Saneeth 21-14, 21-12 in 30 minutes
– Devika Sihag puts away Ines Lucia Castillo 21-14, 21-14
– Rounak Chouhan gets the better of S Sankar Muthusamy 23-21, 21-16
– Dhruv Rawat and K Maneesha 21-15, 21-16 in 26 minutes
Why it matters and what comes next
When you can put in a few of those kinds of sets, it takes the strain off and you start to believe. Be it Srikanth’s efficiency, Tanvi’s nerve or Devika’s hold on the game, it shows we can handle what the draw throws at us.
With the mixed doubles in good spirits and the singles looking solid, India has put in some good work and earned its confidence. We’ll see in the coming rounds if it holds up, but for now, the message is out there.
