Osaka was a good experience — Nirupama

Talking about the Fed Cup, she said she was very thrilled about getting so far in the Fed Cup, but added, “Of course I am disappointed. We were so close and were hoping something would materialise. But anyway, we did better than ever before and it has been a great experience."

Sai said from Chennai that while she had sent in her entry for the same event, she withdrew as she she was rather tired. “We could have won that doubles, especially as they (Japan) would probably not have played Sugiyama and Miyagi. And Manisha and Nirupama were playing really well,” said Sai on a rueful note.

Sai, who according to reports played better tennis in the singles than she has previously, said that a lot of her confidence came from her 1-2 result in the $10,000 satellites in Mumbai and Delhi in the weeks before the Fed Cup. “I was on a high after my performances. Even then, I started tentatively in my first match, but quickly realised I could do it.”