Yet even with that … and with her 2019 world championship won in Basel, Switzerland, home of that maestro who uses a racket rather than a racquet (Roger Federer) … and with her world ranking of No. 7 and once as high as No. 2 … and with her stirring split-set final in Rio de Janeiro against gold medalist Carolina Marin of Spain … and with the Hindustan Times account that during her matches then, “All work came to a standstill as eyes stayed glued to television sets across [India],” as if the nation “believed it was on court with Sindhu” … and with that apparent and amusing squabble between two Indian states about from which she hails … there’s something still more about the simple act of sitting there and watching. That’s largely because it’s hard to know what might come off the racquet next, and whether it will sing or sear.

Source: Washington Post July 27, 2021 23:00 UTC