8 hours ago
Maaya wins her first ITF Junior tennis title on European clay
Pune: It might be just another title in the junior tennis circuit, but for Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, the trophy in the Grade 2 ITF event in Gladbeck, Germany, on Saturday was quite significant.
The 16-year-old from Coimbatore, who set the courts on fire in the WTA 125 Mumbai Open by reaching the semifinals as an unranked, wildcard qualifier in February, defeated Switzerland's Noella Manta 6-2, 6-4 to capture her seventh title in the juniors.
For once, the title was her first on European clay, a rare achievement for an Indian. She also finished runner-up in doubles in the company of Australian Koharu Nishikawa.
Then, there is the context: It was her first week in action after the first-round loss in the qualifying of the French Open junior championships.
"It definitely does matter to me a lot, because it's my first title in Europe as well (besides being on clay)," Maaya said after her win.
"And I've been training on clay for the last one month, non-stop. I mean, with visa delays and all of that, I couldn't perform that well in the French even though I prepared very well," she said, referring to reaching Paris only hours before her match at Roland Garros.
"But I'm happy to win the title on clay because I think there were so many people who were putting in the effort for me to train well on clay. I think that showed up. Yeah, I'm very happy that I had an opportunity to show that it worked."
Maaya had won a Grade 1 junior event in January in New Delhi. So how would she rate her Grade 2 win in Europe?
"It has been a while since I competed well in the first place. I think the last tournament that I played well was in Malaysia, probably a couple of months ago," she said.
"So, for me, this is the last tournament on clay (this season), and it's a very positive finish to the clay season and to go on (to) grass. That is one thing.
"And in India, I think over every tournament, my level was improving a little bit. Every match has been a learning, so I've been gradually climbing up the ladder. I think that's a very positive sign."
Maaya trains at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. The association began as an ad-hoc arrangement sometime in the middle of last year and a deal was officially signed in November.
"The more I train with professional players, the more I'm surrounded by professional people, I'm learning to be a bit more professional," she said.
"I think one of the main things is that you get really motivated. For example, I see a tennis match, a Grand Slam final, I'm like, I'm gonna go tomorrow and smack the ball. But you see a positive example in front of you every single day, that really motivates you. I think that motivation is very important, and I'm happy that I'm getting it."
Maaya has trained outside India at various places earlier but Mallorca feels different in an ironic way.
"This is a bit different because I haven't stayed at a place for a very long time outside India. And I'm studying here as well. So this feels a bit more like home now. I am kind of used to the place."
Home but without friends. Constant travel to tournaments means she is not missed much by her school-mates.
"Half of the school doesn't even know me.
I'm hardly here. They know my name, but they don't know me in person."
In keeping with the harsh realities of the sport, Maaya won't have time to celebrate her win either.
"No, I have to, like rest, get back to training on Monday, because I have to go to London on Tuesday," where she is scheduled to play her next (Grade 1 junior) tournament in Roehampton.
"I've never played on grass before, so it will be the first time for me."
Knowing her ability to adapt to tough conditions, one can be sure Maaya will be slicing and volleying her way to more success.
