Osaka was a good experience -- Nirupama

Osaka was a good experience -- Nirupama

New Delhi, May 1: The women are back, if not the all-conquering heroes (heroines, to be politically correct), then at least, much the wiser for putting in a very solid performance at the zonal Fed Cup matches in Osaka. India missed out on a chance to make it to the play-off, as Japan inched ahead on number of sets won.

Said Nirupama: ``I was thinking of playing there (Gifo City) too, but decided against it because of the surface. It would have been slippery and I didn't want to risk injuring my ankle.''

Talking about the Fed Cup, she said she was very thrilled about getting so far in the Fed Cup, but added, ``Of course I am disappointed. We were so close and were hoping something would materialise. But anyway, we did better than ever before and it has been a great experience."

Sai said from Chennai that while she had sent in her entry for the same event, she withdrew as she she was rather tired. ``We could have won that doubles, especially as they (Japan) would probably not have played Sugiyama and Miyagi. And Manisha and Nirupama were playing really well,'' said Sai on a rueful note.

Sai, who according to reports played better tennis in the singles than she has previously, said that a lot of her confidence came from her 1-2 result in the $10,000 satellites in Mumbai and Delhi in the weeks before the Fed Cup. ``I was on a high after my performances. Even then, I started tentatively in my first match, but quickly realised I could do it.''