Sahaja Yamalapalli, a 23-year-old tennis player from Telangana, India, has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the new No. 1 ranked women’s tennis player in India. This accomplishment comes after she became only the third Indian woman to win an ITF title, echoing the success of her state-mate and former top player, Sania Mirza.
Following Yamalapalli in the national rankings are Ankita Raina and B. Shrivalli, who hold the second and third positions respectively. While the young player is excited about this achievement, she remains grounded and focused on her game. “Honestly, I have never thought of being India No. 1. Even in the juniors category, I have never achieved that ranking,” she shared with Sportstar. “But again, I don’t actually think too much about these rankings. Yes, two weeks ago I was hinted that I might become the No. 1. So, that way, I am super happy to achieve it.”
Yamalapalli views this ranking as another step forward in her journey. “For me, this ranking is just another milestone and a reminder that I keep doing things that I have been doing to be a better player. Of course, to keep winning matches is the primary objective,” she said.
Yamalapalli’s journey has been aided by significant support from various individuals and organizations. She acknowledges the crucial role of Tech Wave, Lakshya Sports Foundation, and individuals like Prahlad Kumar Jain, Neeraj Kedia, and Subrahmanyam Reddy, whose contributions have eased the path for her success.
Despite her recent achievement, Yamalapalli is aware of the responsibilities and expectations that come with this ranking. Her primary focus now is on improving her World ranking (currently at No. 303) and participating in major events, including Grand Slams. “But, my efforts will be to keep improving the World ranking, and make it to as many big events as possible, including Grand Slams,” she affirmed.
The young player is also dedicated to enhancing her skills on different surfaces. “Essentially, I have been focussing to be a complete player on all surfaces. Definitely trying to get better on clay courts also though I have been earlier playing mostly on hard courts. I am glad that I could make it to the semifinal in a clay court championship a few days ago,” she added.
One of the key challenges facing Yamalapalli is finding a trustworthy travelling coach. “Right now, I am enjoying travelling alone and hope to do well in the nine tournaments (all on hard courts) in the US in the next three months. Hopefully, I would love to win a couple of titles too,” she concluded with confidence.
