US Open 2018 | This is where I want to be, says Yuki Bhambri
As he makes it to the main draw of the prestigious US Open, Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri reveals that being in US Open is where he wants to be. Participating in US Open this year will be the sixth time when he has broken through the qualifiers and made an appearance in the main draw of a major.
It has been seven long years since a singles tennis player from India has made it to the main draw of each of the four grand slams. The last time it happened was in 2011 when Somdev Devvarman made this achievement. Now, in 2018, Yuki Bhambri went ahead to earn himself a place in the main draw of all the four grand slams.
He made his way to the main draw of Australian Open and following that he elevated himself to the top 100 world rankings for the second time in his tennis career. As he achieved a world rank of 83, he cleared his way into the main draw of majors in French and England. Currently, he is going to make an appearance in the main draw of the US Open as well.
“This is where I want to be, where everybody wants to be. All the work put in the last few months and a bit from last year has helped to get the ranking and now be able to be here and play another Slam,” he said.
However, Bhambri has never made it past the first round in all the times he made an appearance. He hopes that this US Open, he is able to break the spell. His victory in a first-round match at the Indian Wells Masters was the first in an ATP 1000 event, where he overwhelmed Nicolas Mahut. The following game, he defeated world no.12 Lucas Pouille in straight sets, while going down against Sam Querrey in the next game.
He also made it to the second round of the Miami Masters. As he struggled with his tendinitis in both knees, which was picked after making it to the first French Open, performing well became a little difficult and to this date has not healed completely. However, his achievement at the $150,000 Challenger in Chinese Taipei has encouraged him towards bigger goals.
“It makes a difference knowing that I have done well here before, it gives me confidence. It’s a bit familiar having trained in the US during the younger years. I played in the juniors here for quite some time as well as the pros. So I know the conditions and hopefully I can have a good start,” Bhambri said.
“It was on a different surface earlier, but having played so much on hard courts I don’t think (the lack of match practice is) going to make much of a difference. I would have liked to (have played) in Washington and the
Bhambri will be encountering world no.75, Pierre-Hugues of France while opening his campaign in the event. Their last encounter in a season opener in Pune resulted in Bhambri losing in a three-setter. However, Bhambri is optimistic and hopes for a better result in America.
“I’ve had some good luck against them. Hopefully, whatever luck comes, I’ll take it,” he said.