Billie Jean King Cup (previously Fed Cup) - India

[jayakris]

I have no words to describe the tennis that I just saw from Qinwen Zheng. Incredible. I felt so bad for Ankita. She was even trying to do something, but there was just no chance. None at all.

[Rajiv]

^^^ This new crop of Chinese girls is purely a LI NA effect, the trail blazer has truly inspired a generation of phenomenal talents.

[jayakris]

^^ True. These young Chinese ladies are playing phenomenal tennis. I had never followed any of them, but I have become an instant fan of Qinwen and Xinyu. They are the youngest of the lot at 21 and 22 yrs of age. Zhuxuan Bai is the other 21 yr old in the top-100. They were ranked as high as #6, #2 and #9 in the juniors too.

China is ranked only #23 in BJ Cup rankings, but that is all going to change pretty soon.

[arjun2761]

The thrashing from Qinwen even seemed to affect our doubles team which lost 1-6, 1-6. The Chinese had lost the doubles to TPE, so their doubles pair isn't that good but Prarthana and Rutuja seemed pretty resigned to losing.

[jayakris]

Day 2
Apr 10 Results Summary

China, P.R. d. India 3-0
Xinyu Wang CHN d. Sahaja Yamalapalli IND 6-2 6-3
Qinwen Zheng CHN d. Ankita Raina IND 6-0 6-0
Hanyu Guo / Xiyu Wang CHN d. Rutuja Bhosale / Prarthana G Thombare IND 6-1 6-1

Korea, Rep. d. Chinese Taipei 3-0
Yeonwoo Ku KOR d. En Shuo Liang TPE 6-4 4-6 6-4
Sujeong Jang KOR d. Ya Yi Yang TPE 6-0 6-1
Dabin Kim / Sohyun Park KOR vs Ya Yi Yang / Su-Wei Hsieh TPE 6-3 6-4

New Zealand d. Pacific Oceania 3-0
Monique Barry NZL d. Mehetia Boosie POC 6-0 6-0
Lulu Sun NZL d. Ruby Coffin POC 6-0 6-0
Paige Hourigan / Valentina Ivanov NZL d. Mehetia Boosie / Ruby Coffin POC 6-0 6-1

[jayakris]

The thrashing from Qinwen even seemed to affect our doubles team which lost 1-6, 1-6. The Chinese had lost the doubles to TPE, so their doubles pair isn't that good but Prarthana and Rutuja seemed pretty resigned to losing.

Yeah, that was horrible too. The Chinese seemed to have come ready to pulverize us and the Taiwanese seemed to be playing inspired tennis against them the day before (with a jam-packed stands and all festivities going on around then). The same Taiwanese team lost 0-3 to Korea today too. They seemed to be playing a level below against Korea today.

We are playing the Taiwanese next on Thursday. Will we be able to do anything against them? I don't know... #215 Yai-Yi Yang has lost 60 61 and 60 61 against #7 Qinwen and #241 Sujeong Jang. Are they going to send her in again as their #1 against us? Tough to predict what will happen against Taiwan.

The main court seemed to have a different colored, red clay, surface. They also have "RED CLAY" shown with red seats in the stands and all. The two outer courts seemed to have a brownish surface which looked harder too. Our players seemed to move better on it on Tuesday. Maybe the surface change affected India and Taiwan while China is scheduled on the main court for all ties, and NZL/KOR/POC have been on the same outer courts both days.

We are well-positioned, with the two fastest ties out of the way, the easy win and the easy loss against POC and CHN. Now it is three straight on the outer courts, and we are fresher than the other three teams (TPE, KOR, NZL). Get one win and get out of there. NZL may be the only chance we have. Lulu Sun has not looked too good, so keep Ankita fresh for her.

[sameerph]

Our match against Taiwan started. Rutuja is playing second singles for us today and is up against Hao-Ching Chan who is ranked outside 1000. I wonder why Taiwan is playing her instead of much higher ranked players in the team.

This is the live link-

https://wx.vzan.com/live/page/141307685 ... &jumpitd=1

[sameerph]

Rutuja wins 63 62. We are up 1-0 against Taiwan.

[arjun2761]

Their top player has been getting thrashed, so maybe having a niggle or is completely out of form. Just speculation on my part on why they would sit down #215 over a doubles specialist.

[sameerph]

Could be due that. But, Ankita needs to win the next match against #305 En Shuo Liang. Taiwan doubles team is very strong with world #1 Sue Wei Seieh in it.

[jayakris]

Ankita is up a break early... 4-2 and facing serve. These two have played twice in the past and are 1-1 against each other. 36 76(15) 63 in a comeback from the brink by Ankita in 2018 when EnShuo must have been only about 18, and then a 63 26 36 loss in a comeback by the Taiwanese at BJK Cup in 2020.

I have been fooled by En-Shuo Liang's totally out un-athletic appearance in the past, so I won't take her lightly though. I remember her pullin a comeback against either Rutuja or Karman before too.

Ankita is up two breaks at 5-2. Holds at 30 with an ace at set point. 62 00 we are ahead!

[jayakris]

Ankita should stay ahead. Allow one break, and this lady will start a comeback.

... And she plays an excellent game to take EL to a couple of deuces, 2 BPs and breaks her. 62 21 and serving.

Just as I say it, Ankita decides to lose focus. Three loose shots and a DF at 30-40. All 4 points unforced errors. 2-2 even...

[Atithee]

Are the breaks extraordinarily long in this tournament? I saw Ankita’s coach talk to the chair umpire. Is it a MTO?

Anyway, I’m seeing insipid tennis from Ankita. Second set seems gone. If it does, she’ll have to up the intensity a lot more. The Taipei lady is solid but not too threatening. Ankita is even less threatening.

[jayakris]

I thought it was a toilet break at 3-3? I walked away and didn't watch through it.

3-4 on serve. Key game. Need to hold serve, Ankita! ... She got an unlucky netchord, but EL came up with a fantastic recovery shot that surprised Ankita... 15-40... She saved three BPs, really matching wits with the smart Taiwanese... Finally came up short at the 4th BP. This is not going right. Just as I expected, this lady EnShuo is just massive trouble. Ankita just could not have afforded to have a loose game like she had back in the 4th game. 62 35 and facing serve

[Atithee]

What’s that serve from Ankita? It’s like I see average players on my city courts. I like her backhand ability to hit both flanks though.