PUNE: Yuki Bhambri lacked matches under his belt but hardly showed any sign of rust as he overcame Czech Republic's Jozef Kovalik to move into the second round of the Tata Open Maharashtra here on Monday.
The 29-year-old had played only the Qualifying of the Australian Open, losing in the second round, since entering the ATP 500 Qualifying event in Dubai in March last year.
But the long layoff seemed to have little effect on his game as he beat the 168th ranked Kovalik 6-7 (10), 6-2, 7-5 in the opening round of the $494,000 ATP 250 Series event.
"I think it comes with experience. I have been practising as well for some time. In the end it comes down to believing in your own game," said the Delhi native of his ability to play at the highest level straightaway after a considerable gap.
"The three-hour and six-minute encounter might have just been the perfect match that Bhambri needed to get into the groove as he makes yet another comeback and looks forward to playing a full season.
A naturally gifted player, Bhambri had been smart enough to focus on the upper body in the last three years, which have been frustrating due to the stuttering return to action.
That maturing of the physical build, far from the skinny youngster of the past, was very much visible at the centre court in Mhalunge-Balewadi, as much as his brilliant shot making.
The first set may not have gone the distance, and therefore the match, had it been the Bhambri of 2018 who was wielding the racquet.
It is a testimony to Bhambri's supreme self-belief that losing that tiebreaker hardly made a difference to his game or body language.
"The first set was a yo-yo. There were so many ups and downs, it was so close. But I still felt comfortable with my game and it gave me the confidence to keep going," he said.
"I had my chances but needed to be a bit sharper. I gave away free points, but the key was holding my serve."
Which brings the focus on one of his most efficient aspects of his game. Bhambri's delivery doesn't explode off his racquet, but it has variety and he can find his spots with accuracy when needed.
Again, one can only guess the impact his battered knee has had on his serve.
He had six double-faults and three aces in the course of the match but he had a healthy 71 percent in first serve points won.
The second serve - 42 percent at 18 out of 43 points - was a different matter. But he also saved 16 of the 18 breakpoints he faced.
The biggest positive from the evening though was his willingness to go for the lines, undeterred by the failures to put away a few sitters.
Perhaps, getting the line-call challenges is the one area he needed to improve. Even there, he got the crucial one right - stopping midway on match point but to his relief, Kovalik's shot was found to be milli-metre long.
