By Saumojyoti Singha Choudhury, IANS
Bangalore : For top tennis stars winning the $600,000 Bangalore Open would be the prime objective, but for Isha Lakhani the Tier II event is a big opportunity to share the league with the greats in women’s tennis.
The 23-year-old Mumbaikar, along with Shikha Uberoi, was given wildcard by the organizers, the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA), in the week-long tennis extravaganza that starts Monday in an effort to rope in home flavour in absence of charismatic Sania Mirza, who pulled out of the tournament to evade controversies last month.
But Jelena Jankovic and the Williams sisters – Serena and Venus – will make up for Sania’s absence.
“I am very excited to play here. It is a big opportunity for me to play against some big names like Serena and Venus and gain experience. I will just try to give my best,” Isha told IANS on the sidelines of a practice session here at the KSLTA.
“I don’t have any big expectations from the tournament. I will just go there and play. Winning or losing doesn’t matter to me, what matters is performance,” she said.
Asked about the responsibility on her and Shikha’s shoulders in absence of Sania, Isha said: “I know people will be eagerly looking at us in Sania’s absence. But we can only try. We will take the responsibility positively.”
“Even I have responsibility towards my own game,” said Isha ranked 349th in the WTA rankings, way behind Sania.
Isha is participating in the tournament after a mixed outing at the Fed Cup, where she registered her lone victory against Sacha Jones of New Zealand.