‘Serving well key on indoor courts’

Astana (Kazakhstan), February 6 

India’s Fed Cup coach Ankita Bhambri said a good serve will be the key on indoor courts when Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi fight it out with higher-ranked players in the Fed Cup here. India will begin their campaign in the Asia/Oceania Group I against Thailand on Thursday before clashing with hosts Kazakhstan on Friday.

Getting past Thailand is not expected to be too hard for India with Ankita and Karman in good form. Thailand’s best-ranked singles player is Peangtarn Plipuech, who is placed at 297, while Punnin Kovapitukted is No. 657. “Karman is stronger and fitter while Ankita is also strong and has more experience,” Bhambri said.

The matches will be played indoors due to sub-zero temperatures in the city. “It is important to serve well indoor. If you start a point well, the chances of ending it well also get better,” Bhambri said.

Kazakhstan’s world No. 43 Yulia Putintseva and No. 96 Zarina Diyas would be the tough obstacles for India. “It’s always tough to play top-100 players. Ankita played the match of her life against Yulia last year. That experience should help her,” said Bhambri.

Raina beat Putintseva in New Delhi last year. “The plan and determination is the same,” said 25-year-old Raina, who is at a career-best rank of 165. — PTI