Waiting on the Tramlines

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Call it the Sania-rippling effect or attribute it to corporates branching out beyond cricket and waking up belatedly to the potential of visibility that tennis now offers them. Mumbai girl Adnyaa Naik has managed to time her 2005 year-end title-victory at the under-14 Asian Masters, just right.

Krishna Bhupathi8217;s discerning eye had caught the spark in Sania Mirza, then a highly driven teenager at 14; and from there took off a dazzling career, which struck all the right chords, on court and off it. It is at 14 now that Adnyaa, a well-built baseliner who whacks her backhands as hard as any other 14-year-old in Asia or Australia, is benefiting from the realization dawning upon India Inc.

Adnyaa8217;s win at the Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Delhi earlier, where she beat Japanese Ishizu Sachie, had clinched her an enviable deal with India8217;s national carrier, easing the pressure on the pockets.

The Masters triumph at Melbourne took care of her kit 8212; a meaty chunk of the Rs 50 lakh that touring is said to involve 8212; after an international racket brand came forward to sponsor her gear, and even extended the deal to include apparel.

The youngster now has the logistical support for 25-30 Grade III and IV ITF junior tournaments in 2006, with AITA and MSLTA working out the scheduling plans. 8216;8216;My father8217;s a businessman, so he could sustain the initial expenses. But as the level goes up, I know I will need all the cash,8217;8217; Adnyaa says.

She is headed to Belgium in a month8217;s time for the International Youth Cup, where she will be tested amongst players from Europe and America. The prospect of squaring up to competition from tennis8217;s traditional hot-spots does not, however, cause any creasing of the brow. 8216;8216;My body language has improved after the wins in Australia. Now that I have seen what foreign competition looks like, though it was restricted to just Asians and Australians, I know I can hold my own on the international stage. I also went to Wimbledon last year and saw tennis on the big stage. These things make a difference,8217;8217; Adnyaa adds.

A strongly built player, Adnyaa needs to work on precision in her serve to support the aggressive intent that oozes out of her solid groundstrokes on both flanks. 8216;8216;She needs to work on her fitness, but if she devotes herself to it, she can hit the big-time,8217;8217; says MSLTA coach Manoj Vaidya. Also, talks are on to bring down an Australian coach to the city to maximize on the power that this sturdy girl can generate with her strokes.

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Working out a detailed schedule of training and tournaments seems a tad easier, when the finances are taken care of, and Adnyaa probably owes it to the precedent of Mirza8217;s success. But the youngster herself believes she can rise higher: 8216;8216;I think I can.8217;8217; Call it the new-age attitude; but she probably owes that confidence to Mirza too.

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More