IndiaPost.com - 'Sania lost opportunity to climb up the ladder'

NEW DELHI: Former Davis Cup captain Vijay Amritraj believes Sania Mirza might have let slip an opportunity to upset some big names and climb up the rankings by pulling out of the WTA Bangalore Open.

Amritraj said home advantage works wonder for an athlete and since Sania was in great form in the Australian Open, she could have toppled a few big names with the fans cheering for her. The player-turned commentator, however, said Sania should know what was best for her. "It is strange that this kind of thing has happened.

She is a kind of player who can reach the top-20 and you have to give yourself a good shot to do it," Amritraj said. Sania pulled out of the Bangalore Open saying she wanted to avoid unnecessary controversies that had mired her playing career. "She needs to make the right calls. She was wonderful in the Australian Open and if she had the chance of beating a top player there, it was Venus Williams," Amritraj said.

"She is in great form at the moment and it was a good opportunity to do that with the crowd support. There is nothing like playing in front of a home crowd. India can't wait for Sania to be in the top-20. But all said and done, she knows how she is feeling and take her call and it depends on her scheduling," he said.

Amritraj also said that every decision that an athlete makes should be taken after a lot of thought but there should not be any subsequent regrets. "When I left the game, I felt I had given everything and I didn't have any regrets. Sania is 20-years-old and in terrific form now.

As a sportsperson, you should make sure that one does not have any regrets after you leave the game." The former player also said that the coming together of estranged partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi augurs well for the country provided the focus is on their game. "They have had their differences.

They might play on the same side of the court but sitting on the different side of the bench will certainly not help. They might be a little rusty in the beginning but they have played for long to know each other's strength," Amritraj said.

Asked about Somdev Dev Varman making his Davis Cup debut against Uzbekistan tomorrow, Amritraj said he is a "determined" youngster but it remains to be seen how he performs on grass. "Davis Cup is a test of character because it tests you in different conditions.

You need to believe in yourself. It will be a challenge for him here." On his son Prakash being left from the singles tie, Amritraj said it was the captain's call. "Prakash had a bit of stomach problem and it depends on how he felt. There are fitness issues and many other things that are taken into consideration." He, however, felt that Bhupathi coming back into the Davis Cup side was a big plus for India.