Transformed Shruti Ahlawat ready to take the next big step

Riding on her ITF Asia-Oceania B1 junior title triumph, her third title of the season, the Delhi girl has risen to No. 49 in the latest world junior tennis rankings. It is her career-best ranking, improving on the 69 he had finished at last year following a runner-up finish in the same tournament.

All of 16, she will get to play all the Junior Grand Slams in 2023, for the second year in a row. But Shruti’s metamorphosis is neither superficial nor restricted to the technical. “I am little (more) arrogant now.

That’s what people have been saying but actually I am more confident,” Shruti said after winning the prestigious continental junior crown here on Saturday. She rolled over Australian Lily Taylor 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the hard-court event at Deccan Gymkhana. Her voice was calm and firm.

More importantly, she had looked happy the whole week, compared to last year when a tennis elbow and a few other health issues had given her a sullen look, despite reaching the final. “I was generally not well the past two-three months. People have been critical of my performance.

This trophy is for them,” said Shruti, referring to criticism she had copped after a qualifying first-round loss at Wimbledon, preceded by a string of early exits in various tournaments. “I didn’t want to say anything to them. I just wanted to let my racquet speak for me.” Her new-found confidence stems from a move to Bangkok, Thailand, six weeks ago when she started working with Stephen Koon at his Impact Academy.