I had a very happy childhood. As the first child in our family, I was loved by all. I grew up in Hyderabad, but also stayed in the US with my family for two years. I still have vivid memories of the US. It was at the Ohio city’s municipal tennis court that I played tennis for the first time with my cousins ? and I loved it. Unfortunately, everybody in my family thought I was too young to play a game as difficult as tennis.

Once I came back to India, I joined school. I did very well, scoring 90 per cent in all the exams. My father played tennis at the club level and many of my uncles and cousins have played Ranji trophy cricket, and even for India. Dad didn’t want me to start playing tennis from the age of six, but Mom believed in me and took me to the Nizam Club. I was so glad that I started hitting the ball hard from the very first day.

My coach was so happy with me that he came home after a week to tell my family about it. Dad wasn’t convinced at first, but after six months he went to the club to see me for himself. Since then he hasn’t stopped encouraging me.

I remember the first match I played at the Deccan Gymkhana in Hyderabad. My opponent ? a nationally ranked player ? was 5ft 10in tall and over 15 years old. I was just seven and my head just about touched the top of the net! I was, however, quite confident and so was my coach, though my parents were quite anxious. Most of the 200 spectators thought it would be a one-sided match. It started and ended quickly, but it was I who won!

I miss out on so many things I cherish because of my tennis. I feel sad that I missed out on school in order to play tournaments. Since I have to travel frequently, I also miss the company of my younger sister Anam, who is a great fan of mine ? even though we fight a lot!