China Masters: Transformed by Gopichand, Anupama stuns Beiwen Zhang

Anupama Upadhyaya, the World No. 50, pulled off the biggest win of her career by ousting the gritty Beiwen Zhang, World No. 15, in the first round of the China Masters in Shenzhen on Tuesday.

Shaking off the rust of travelling for more than 12 hours from New Delhi, the 19-year-old shuttler from Almora, who reached Shenzhen just a few hours before her match after being drafted into the main draw from the reserved section, overcame the jet lag and sleeplessness to defeat Zhang 21-17, 8-21, 22-20 in a thrilling 48-minute Round of 32 clash.

Recalling Anupama's whirlwind journey, her father Naveen Upadhyaya told The Bridge, "She flew from Delhi at 1.30 AM (IST) via Hong Kong. She reached there today (November 19) only at 12.30 PM (CST). She had lunch by 1.30 PM and rested for 2 hours. She then left for the venue at 4 PM."

It marked her maiden entry into the second round of a Super 750 event. It was also her first win against a top-20 player. In July, she lost to Michelle Li, then ranked World No. 20, in the second round of the Canada Open.

Despite playing on a sluggish court, Anupama, who recently switched to the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad from the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, displayed remarkable resilience. She bossed the net and tested Zhang's defence in every rally, capitalising on her improved fitness and swift movement.

Anupama, who had little acquaintance with the Shenzhen Bay Gymnasium courts, raced to a 9-3 lead in the opening game in no time, keeping Zhang guessing with wide reach and sharp anticipation. With her enhanced ability to cover both the back and front court, she dominated net exchanges, using her wristy strokes to foil Zhang's attempts to take control.

Her precise net kills and creative strokes captivated the Chinese spectators, as she claimed the first game 21-17 with a well-placed drop shot that left Zhang bewildered.

Zhang, a willy 34-year-old shuttler who boasts five wins against PV Sindhu, bounced back emphatically in the second game, forcing errors from Anupama to claim a lopsided 21-8 win and push the match into a decider.

Varied strokeplay

Unfazed by Zhang's momentum, Anupama began the final game confidently, challenging her in every rally. Eventually, she broke away from the 8-8 impasse to lead 11-8 at the interval.

In a tense finish, Zhang clawed her way back from a 15-19 deficit to level the score at 20-20. However, Anupama held her nerves, engaging Zhang in tactical rallies. On match point, her delicate drop shot just trickled over the net, securing her first-ever win against a top-20 player.

Reflecting on her milestone win, Anupama expressed her joy. "This was only the second time I was playing against a top-20 player, and I have seen Zhang play many times. This being my first 750-series event, I am so happy and proud of myself. This win gives me confidence and motivation to believe I belong at this level," she told this website.

Anupama revealed that she had no practice in the main hall due to time constraints prior to the match.

"I kept thinking I must play positive, keep the shuttle in, and whenever I will get a chance to hit smash I will hit. But yes I got lucky on the last point and am grateful to the god," she said of her big win.

Guided by Gurusai Dutt in her corner, Anupama credited this victory to the support and tactics provided during the match.

"Guru bhaiya kept giving me inputs and encouraging me to grab this opportunity. It helped me a lot," she added.

Impact of the mentor

Despite being a promising shuttler over the past few years and earning recognition for her creative play, Anupama had struggled to break into the upper echelons of world badminton.

However, her recent move to training under the legendary Pullela Gopichand, alongside a talented cohort that includes players like Anmol Kharb, Rakshitha Sree Santosh Ramraj, Shriyanshi Vallisheety, Navya Kanderi, and Venilla Kalagotla, has brought a noticeable transformation in her game.

Anupama no longer appears hesitant with smashes or sluggish on movements. Instead, she has grown in confidence and developed a stronger belief in her abilities. On Tuesday, this newfound assurance was on full display as she outmanoeuvred Zhang with her swift footwork and deceptive strokes, delivering a performance that signalled her readiness to compete at the highest level.

In the crunching final moments, when Zhang drew level at 20-20, Anupama stayed calm and drew her to the net, unlike her previous outings when she used to fizzle out in the third game under pressure.

But on Tuesday, she first forced her to commit an error to get on the match point and then left Zhang to stretch to her limit drawing in another error from her as the American played the shuttler under the net.

Her father, Naveen Upadhyaya, emphasized the impact of her move to the Pullela Gopichand Academy.

"She was missing a mentor for all these years. Moving to Gopichand's academy has been transformative. Gopi sir has produced so many top talents in the country," he said.

Anupama herself acknowledged the shift in her game and mindset, "The main change is belief. Following Gopi sir's process has given me confidence. With his guidance and group training, I feel I’m growing as a player and becoming stronger."

Priyanshu falters, Sumeeth-Sikki win

The day also saw mixed fortunes for other Indian players. Priyanshu Rajawat suffered a narrow defeat to Indonesia's Chico Dwi Wardoyo, losing 24-22, 13-21, 18-21 despite leading for most of the third game.

Meanwhile, Aakarshi Kashyap made a first-round exit in women’s singles, losing 10-21, 18-21 to Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki.

In mixed doubles, however, B. Sumeeth Reddy and N. Sikki Reddy advanced to the second round with a hard-fought 23-21, 17-21, 21-17 win over Presley Smith and Jennie Gai.