Not that she needed more males on there. God, you go to a match and you'd have an enormous group of Indian guys yelling out to her, proposing marriage, and pulling out bollywood cliches that they're sure she'd appreciate if she'd only listen. But all that was just cos she was a cute desi chick out on the court. It was a chance for the repressed Indian sports fan to go out and cheer for a fellow countryman. That she's a pretty girl is an extra bonus. But she definitely deserves the hype now. Shahar Peer, Patty Schnyder, Dinara Safina, Martina Hingis...say what you want, that's a seriously impressive collection of top player scalps right there. I'd watched her a bit the past two years when she made the move up to 32, and I had to say I was rather underwhelmed by the entire package. She wasn't in any great shape, her backhand was shaky and she might have as well served her second serve underhanded. But even back then she could crank out a seriously impressive forehand.
She put it rather well when she said at the Stanford Classic last month that even though she cracked the top 40 earlier, she played at a top 70 level. But having gotten in great shape earlier this year (take a gander at her pic, she looks flippin hot!) she's been able to move around really well and, as she put it, set it up for her huge forehand.
You could see what she was talking about when she played at the Stanford Classic. She moved really well, chased down balls I didn't think she'd get to, and stayed in rallies much longer than her opponents. It looked like she had more punch in her second serve too....all in all a definite high calibre player. Though of course it could all have just been a flash in the pan, which was why it was such a pleasant surprise to hear of her great run at the Acura Classic. Fine she got crushed by Sharapova, but then again who doesn't? She's not going to be a top 5 or top 10 player, but she can definitely get into the teens. And she's just beaten Martina Hingis at the East West Bank Classic (such a terrible name). That's a pretty damn good streak by anyone's standards. It'll be fun to follow her at the US Open. Now that she'll be seeded, she shouldn't be facing Serena again too soon.
And she did win the doubles.
So yes, I'm a fan and I think she's a hottie. After all, who doesn't love a girl with a big.....um forehand.
