Hingis showed what great players are all about

We could have partnered each other in the Dubai Duty Free Open, too, but she had already committed to playing with Martina Navratilova. It was unfortunate that they lost in the very first round. I have done reasonably well so far with my partner for the week, Vento-Kabchi. We have made it to the quarter-finals, after a confidence-boosting victory over the formidable Russian pair of Myskina and Kirilenko.

The first-round singles encounter against Martina Hingis was a memorable experience. She was already a legend when I started out in the game and was World No. 1 when I was playing at the under-12 level. Naturally, it was exciting to be pitted against her. She showed what a great champion she was, by consistently playing the ‘big’ points better. I had the chance to break her serve in the ninth game of the first set, which could have evened out the match at that stage. I was trailing 3-5, but was up a break-point. However, Martina served brilliantly to regain the initiative. I think I did pretty well to level scores at 5-all in the second set after being 3-5 down. I could have gained a lead for the first time in the match at that juncture and I could see that Martina was worried, but she outdid me with some excellent tennis.

Great players do not give their opponents too much breathing space. You have got to be constantly at your best as they have the capacity to humiliate you on court. She used the baseline with great guile and it is difficult to read her shots as she takes the ball early. Her game wasn’t power-oriented when she started out, but she is serving very strongly now — 170 to 175 kph range.

The crowd support in Dubai was overwhelming, and it is something I am getting used to. It can be equally distracting to me as it is to my opponents at times but it still feels great to be supported.

(PMG/Globosport)