Kalaburagi, March 10 (NationPress) Following her triumph at the ITF W35 Kalaburagi event, which capped off an impressive streak in Karnataka—where she was also a runner-up at the ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru in February—India’s Vaishnavi Adkar credited her recent success to the mentorship of Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna.

“We discussed various strategies, and that conversation made me realize that the change could be beneficial for my game. Having someone with such a wealth of experience, who has reached the pinnacle of world tennis and competed at elite levels for years, is incredibly valuable. His insights, combined with the support from my academy team, have greatly aided my progress as I strive to enhance my career,” she stated.

Additionally, Adkar expressed her gratitude to the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) for granting her a wildcard entry into the ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026. This opportunity enabled her to become the first Indian woman to reach a final at a W100 or higher event since Sania Mirza in 2009. This accomplishment propelled her ranking from No. 690 to a personal best of No. 466, and she is anticipated to break into the top 400 next week as her Kalaburagi victory points are included.

“I’m incredibly thankful to KSLTA for the wildcard chances they provided. I wasn’t expecting it, so their belief in me was significant. I’m pleased to have capitalized on this opportunity, which has positively impacted my ranking,” she added.

Adkar has also been selected for India’s team in the forthcoming Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania tournament, slated for next month in New Delhi.

“Tennis is predominantly an individual sport, so being part of a team event like the Billie Jean King Cup and representing India is incredibly special. I’m very excited about it and hope to contribute to the team in any way possible,” she mentioned regarding her selection.

In recent months, Adkar has concentrated on enhancing key aspects of her game. “We have been focusing primarily on the serve and return, as they initiate every point. Simultaneously, the physical component of tennis has gained importance, so I’ve dedicated considerable time to improving in that area as well,” she noted.

She emphasized that her mindset towards the game has transformed significantly, stating, “This year, I decided that I want to enjoy playing more and have fun on the court since that’s why I started this sport. When I approached it with that mindset, without excessive pressure, the results began to follow.”

Adkar credited her early growth to her parents, who allowed her the freedom to pursue tennis without undue pressure.

“My parents have been my pillars of support. Even during times when results were not in my favor, they never imposed pressure on me. They always emphasized that enjoying what I do is the most crucial factor,” she explained.

Her journey was momentarily hindered by an injury that disrupted her progression. Reflecting on this, Adkar shared, “I sustained an ACL tear shortly after winning my first ITF juniors title. It occurred the very next week in another tournament, necessitating surgery and an eight-month recovery period. That was an arduous time mentally, especially as I needed to continue earning points and advancing.”

Nevertheless, Adkar believes that the recovery phase ultimately fortified her resilience.

“Recovering from surgery is always a mental challenge due to the underlying fear. However, during my rehabilitation, we focused significantly on building my strength and fitness, and when I returned to competition, I was physically more robust than before. In a way, it turned out to be a hidden blessing,” she concluded.