Home comforts boost Shikha

The big news on Day 1 was Shikha Uberoi8217;s first-round win, and few would remember the name of her 18-year-old Japanese opponent or figu...

The big news on Day 1 was Shikha Uberoi8217;s first-round win, and few would remember the name of her 18-year-old Japanese opponent or figure out why she lost.

But a little homework on Ryoko Fuda provides an insight into the highly competitive world of international tennis 8212; and a reality check for highly demanding Indian fans.

It will also explain why Sania Mirza8217;s loss in the first round at Bali isn8217;t a reason to run her down; it happens to everyone on the circuit.

Ryoko8217;s career graph has seen a great rise, though not as spectacular as Sania8217;s. In the past year Ryoko has climbed 100 places and is currently ranked 181. Her opponent today, Shikha, was just 30 places higher than her, which isn8217;t much considering the neck-to-neck competition. The scoresheet shows a rather comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win for Shikha but it all boiled down to a few key points. Finally, it was the 8216;home and away8217; difference that will see Ryoko take the flight out today.

One key factor in the match was the disparity in crowd support. On Shikha8217;s side was a partisan crowd, her corner including her coach father, player/sister Neha and Fed Cup coach Enrico Piperno. Ryoko had just her coach Masahide Sakamoto. And while Shikha was never short of advice or encouragement, for Ryoko it all boiled to just talking to herself and pumping her fists.

A stranger in a strange land, Ryoko put up a brave front talking to the media with the help of coach, who played the part-time translator. She spoke of how she liked Indian food and called the crowd 8216;sporting8217; but did add, 8216;8216;home advantage is always there, it certainly helps the local.8217;8217;

And it was evident. Down in the second set, Shikha double faulted but the crowd saw to it that she held her serve. A questionable call in the final game was wildly applauded, so much so that Ryoko wouldn8217;t have dared to approach the chair umpire to reconsider the decision.

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Life on the road for these young girls is tough. Coach Sakamoto says how Kyodo8217;s parents and he take turns to travel with the tennis prodigy. 8216;8216;If I have to travel with her all the time, I would go crazy,8217;8217; he confessed. But traveling is a must since, like India, Japan too has a couple of WTA tournaments.

And these are fringe benefits of an event of this magnitude. Players like Rushmi Chakravarthy, the Bhambri sisters and even Sania have never had this home advantage. Maybe the playing field is levelling out; even Ryoko will have her day.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More