New Delhi, April 10: Vaishnavi Adkar showcased her growing confidence despite a close defeat. She expressed that her hopes stem from her abilities and is certain she can achieve victory. This statement came after India lost to Indonesia on the third day of the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie. The loss occurred in a tough three-set match against Priska Madeline Nugroho.
Adkar delivered a strong performance but ultimately fell short in a grueling three-set battle. On Thursday, during the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie, India trailed 0-2 against Indonesia, giving Indonesia an unassailable lead.
Playing at the DLT Stadium, the 21-year-old Indian player, ranked 391, lost the match after more than three exhausting hours, with scores of 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 3-6. Despite the defeat, Adkar’s performance was marked by tenacity, strategic adjustments, and a fighting spirit.
Reflecting on the match, Adkar stated, “Today’s match was quite challenging and lengthy. Obviously, it didn’t go in my favor, nor did it go in our favor, but not winning is certainly disappointing. The most important thing was to keep fighting until the last point, and I truly fought well, even though the result wasn’t in my favor. I take pride in my efforts, but I still felt a bit disappointed.”
The match saw several dramatic shifts in momentum. Adkar managed to win the first set in a tiebreak after saving a set point. However, critical mistakes at crucial moments weighed heavily on her. Discussing those errors, she admitted, “There were many ups and downs in the match. There were moments when I should have played more strongly, but I didn’t. I made some mistakes, but I was able to come back. I think my opponent played better tennis, and her performance was outstanding.”
The second set was just as intense as the first. After falling behind, Adkar made a comeback and served for the match at 5-4. However, Nugroho elevated her game in the tiebreak, pushing the match to a decisive third set. The Indonesian player capitalized on key opportunities in the final set to secure her victory.
Following her impressive win over New Zealand’s Aishi Das the previous day, Adkar dismissed any notion that pressure affected her performance. “I have hopes because I have the capability. So, to be honest, I’m not viewing this as pressure; rather, it boosts my confidence because I know people believe in me, and I believe in myself too. The result wasn’t in my favor, but my opponent was quite strong. I knew I wouldn’t easily score many points, and she truly put up a great fight. It was just a tough loss.”
A pivotal moment occurred when Nugroho took a lengthy medical break during the second set, disrupting the match’s rhythm. Adkar spoke about the impact of that break and her efforts to regain her composure. She said, “I also used that time to refresh myself since the first set was quite long. I got some extra time to regroup. I used it to prepare myself and fully immerse in the game. I think I performed quite well in the next game, but I couldn’t maintain that rhythm. It affected my momentum, and I lost points at times when I could have played more strongly. However, these are the matches from which you learn; every loss is a lesson.”
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